4. CELLU-‘LIGHT’ FOR IMPROVED RURAL LIVELIHOODS.

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1.       There have been and continue to be a good number of existing global deliberations, reports, policies and forums on rural transformation and food security. These are well-timed as the world is gearing towards realization of the vision 2030 17 United Nations sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Global efforts towards transforming rural communities and food security have direct bearing on a number of sustainable goals. These are Goal 1
No poverty, Goal 2
Zero hunger, Goal 8
Decent work and economic growth, Goal 9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 12- Responsible consumption and production. Goal 1
No poverty proposes to end extreme poverty by 2030. The core purpose of rural transformation is to see to it that living conditions of people in rural areas are upgraded. The processes of rural transformation are a necessary force in poverty alleviation. Goal 2- Zero hunger is anchored upon the premise of ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. An integral aspect of rural transformation is the establishment of sustainable agriculture. It may necessitate the study of food marketing, processing and distribution structures. Since most of the farmers in the world are based in rural communities, it is important to educate and financially empower them to ensure food security. Goal 8
Decent work and economic growth promotes sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. People in rural areas are mostly dependent on agriculture and in rural communities in Kenya, they mostly practice subsistence farming. To attain rural transformation, farmers have to engage in commercial farming for income and better livelihoods.  Goal 9- Industry, innovation and infrastructure is coined around building resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Sound modern agricultural practices in rural areas will not only ensure food security but poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. This empowerment leads to economic development of communities hence gradual realization of rural transformation. Innovation especially in the manufacturing industry is required to achieve food security and rural transformation. Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities is geared towards making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Effective processes in rural transformation and food security will enable the attainment of this goal. Goal 12
Responsible consumption and production seeks to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Food security ensures that people consume sufficient and nutritious food and that farmers are able to produce food and meet this demand. Emphasis on manufacturing, as a key component of rural transformation, boosts exploitation of natural resources and then processing into consumable/ usable products. Cellulose Manufacturing Plants can be set up in almost any rural community. Cellulose is a substance that makes up most plant cell walls probably making it the most abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose can be used in making valuable products such as paper products, cotton, linen, rayon for clothes.  This polymer has versatile uses in many industries such as veterinary foods, wood and paper, fibers and clothes, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.  Establishing these Cellulose Manufacturing plants will create employment opportunities that offer a source of income generation for rural people as well as provide an alternative to on-farm activities. Rampant unemployment in rural areas has caused a major slur in rural transformation. When people lack avenues of generating income, they remain financially disempowered, vulnerable and cannot possibly participate in the economic development of their communities. Infrastructure remains poor, facilities dilapidated and people cannot access public goods and services. The establishment of Cellulose Manufacturing plants in rural areas is not only crucial in fostering rural transformation but is integral in putting in place mechanisms for best  agricultural processes hence food security. Climate change has resulted into unpredictable weather patterns that have adversely affected crop yields and led to hunger. Farmers in rural areas are ignorant of the prevailing situation and lack resources, machinery and general know-how of how to form resilience against the devastating effects of climate change. Once employment opportunities are created through these Cellulose Manufacturing plants, people in rural communities begin to earn income. Farmers will also take advantage of the job opportunities in an effort of earning livelihoods/ supplementing income through an off-farm avenue. With the income, they will adopt the best agricultural practices. This may be in form accessing information/ awareness on climate change, expert advice, engaging technology, purchasing modern machinery, investing in human capital and accessing all the resources needed to ensure proper agricultural practices. This results into high farm yields hence food security and attainment of SDG 2
Zero hunger. It improper to separate the topics of rural transformation and zero hunger  for how can rural transformation be said to be taking place when people in these communities are facing challenges of hunger? Food is a basic human need. Rural transformation should see to it that there is human prosperity. The economic restructuring of rural areas will see to it that people in these areas obtain decent livelihoods. One way of ensuring that people obtain decent livelihoods is by economically empowering them and these can be achieved through creating employment opportunities. Social restructuring of rural areas on the other hand is pegged on such important subjects as freeing people from poverty and ensuring zero hunger. Both the social and economic restructuring of rural areas are important and separate efforts made towards achieving both should complement each other. The establishment of Cellulose Manufacturing Plants in rural areas is achievable and sustainable since the raw material (cellulose) can be found almost anywhere. These plants will provide employment opportunities to rural dwellers that can then begin to actively participate in the economic development of their communities. Rural farmers can also take advantage of the opportunities in these plants to supplement the income they obtain from on-farm activities. The income they obtain can then be reinvested in proper agricultural practices and with this comes food security. The establishment of Cellulose Manufacturing plants in rural communities will directly contribute to the economic and social transformation of rural areas as well as ensuring food security/ zero hunger. We propose that these Cellulose Manufacturing Plants are those that use low-carbon energy.

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