Liquid Gold: Harnessing the Potential of Digestate to Enhance Smallholder Farmer Food Security and Livelihood

Roopnarain, Ashira and Ndaba, Busiswa and Rama, Haripriya and Obi, Linda U. and Bello-Akinosho, Maryam and Akindolire, Muyiwa (2022) Liquid Gold: Harnessing the Potential of Digestate to Enhance Smallholder Farmer Food Security and Livelihood. In: Food Security for African Smallholder Farmers. Springer, Singapore, pp. 313-341. ISBN 978-981-16-6771-8

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Abstract

Smallholder (SH) farming systems drive many economies in Africa and are one of the main sources of food and income to the poorest in both urban and rural areas. Improvements of the farming system is imperative to ensure food security and poverty reduction. A holistic SH farming approach that promotes resource recycling will ensure sustainability and productivity of SH farms. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is important to a holistic SH farming system. Anaerobic digestion aids in waste management and results in the generation of biogas as well as a nutrient-rich digestate. The value of the generated biogas has been widely publicised; however, the importance of the produced digestate is less known. This chapter aims at revealing the myriad of applications of digestate that are relevant to SH farming systems. These applications include its use as an organic fertilizer, in seed priming, as irrigation water, as a biopesticide, in aquaculture and livestock management as well as in several bioprocesses. Simple digestate post-treatment methods will also be highlighted. Overall, this chapter is aimed at improving understanding of the potential of digestate to promote its utilisation, together with the generated biogas, in a holistic farming approach thereby maximising benefits associated with AD

Item Type: Book Section
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies
Depositing User: Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited: 07 Sep 2026 11:48
Last Modified: 07 Sep 2026 11:48
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/6335

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