zacatech (214)
DESCRIPTION
A unique approach to educating rural subsistence farmers about low-cost agricultural technologies specifically designed to thrive in the harsh central Mexican environment.On the MIT Global Challenge at: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/teams/view/214TRANSCRIPT
Zacatech
Sivakami SambasivamStephanie LinPaula TrepmanSamantha HartzellMary MastermanFrancisco Javier Valenzuela Acosta
Education on low-cost agricultural technologies to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in Mexico.
The Population: Zacatecas, Mexico
State of Zacatecas:- 2nd highest degree of poverty and marginalization in Mexico
Municipality of Pinos:- High marginalization- 300 scattered, rural farming communities
The Problem
Focal Problem
Solution Implementation
Causes Cost – high riskLimited access to
informationLack of precedence
Lack of technology
Effects Cycle of subsistence farming
Low crop yields Lack of crop diversity
Childhood MalnutritionDiabetes
Difficulty in accessing produce Decreased income
Our Solution: the Technology
Cow manure
Daily maintenance
High-impact Fertilizer
Methane Gas
Diverse Produce
• All year round: Fresh vegetables (1 cup per day per middle school
student) produced. Greenhouse heats biodigestor → optimal conditions for
anaerobic bacteria; biogas used for cooking.
• During the winter Biodigestor operates at a lower temperature; biogas
used to power heater that keeps greenhouse warm enough to enable extended growing season.
Technological Feasibility
Heat=(Surface Area of Greenhouse [ft 2])( 1.2 Btuhr °F
)∗(Temperature Gradient [°F ])
- Average minimum temperature in January in La Vaquita = 43°F- Ideal temperature of greenhouse = 60°F=> 5580 Btu required per hour to heat greenhouse during cold periods- Biogas providing 40,000 Btu/day could heat greenhouse for 7 hours/day
Our Solution: the Model
Small-scale farmersStudents
Education Technological training
Educational Biodigester-Greenhouses
Implementation of low-cost technologies
Improvement of crop yieldsCrop diversification
Community construction of biodigester-greenhouses near secondary schools.
• Community outreach and planning
• Initial prototype of low-cost greenhouse and biodigester
• Evaluation• Design and prototyping of
greenhouse heating system• Reevaluation• Implementation in target
communities
Current Stage of Project