Contents
- The Problem: Haiti’s Charcoal Death Spiral
- The Solution: Elephant Grass on Slopes + BonZeb Kiln
- Growth & Harvest Specifications
- Charcoal Production: Kiln, Briquetting, Packaging
- Dual Purpose: Livestock Feed + Charcoal from Same Crop
- Revenue Model
- Startup Costs
- Slope Planting & Erosion Control
- Bamboo + Elephant Grass Two-Crop System
- Carbon Credits
- Partners: BonZeb, Better Universe & Citizens, Haiti Grass Project
- Integration with SAKALA Franchise
- Dan’s Vision
1. The Problem: Haiti’s Charcoal Death Spiral
Haiti has less than 1% of its primary forest remaining. In 1950, forest cover was 50%. The driver is not mysterious... it is arithmetic. 94% of Haitian households cook with wood charcoal. The country produces 946,500 metric tons of charcoal annually, cutting 53,000 hectares of trees per year while replanting only 2,000. Net loss: 51,000 hectares per year, every year, accelerating.
$392 million — annual charcoal market value, ~5% of GDP
9 million people — dependent on wood charcoal for daily cooking
50%+ of income — spent on cooking fuel by households in Cité Soleil
10,000 bags/day — burned across Port-au-Prince alone
51,000 hectares/year — net deforestation for charcoal production
0 commercial alternatives — currently at market scale
The conventional response to Haiti’s charcoal crisis has been to tell people to stop using charcoal. That has never worked and will never work. Charcoal is not a preference... it is the only affordable cooking fuel available. LPG costs 3–5x more. Solar cookers do not work for traditional Haitian cuisine. Electric stoves require a grid that does not exist.
The solution is not to eliminate charcoal demand. The solution is to change the feedstock... from trees that take 15–30 years to regrow to a grass that grows 4 feet every 4 months and thrives on slopes too steep to farm.
2. The Solution: Elephant Grass on Slopes + BonZeb Kiln
Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus, formerly Pennisetum purpureum) is a perennial tropical grass that reaches 3–5 meters in 180 days. It produces 30–40 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year under standard conditions, and up to 80–100 tonnes under optimal management. It grows on steep hillsides where no food crop can survive. Its dense root system holds soil that would otherwise wash into the sea during every hurricane season.
The critical technology that makes this viable is the BonZeb kiln... a carbonization unit designed specifically for elephant grass by Tom Stein’s team, engineered to be 99% person-powered and 95% smoke-free. No diesel. No electricity. No imported components. A kiln that can be built and operated by a crew of young Haitians on the same hillside where the grass grows.
How It Works: Slope to Stove
3. Growth & Harvest Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cenchrus purpureus | Formerly Pennisetum purpureum |
| Common names | Elephant grass, Napier grass, Uganda grass | “Zèb elefan” in Kreyòl |
| Growth rate | 4 feet every 4 months | 3–5 meters in 180 days |
| First harvest | 180 days from planting | Half the time of most perennials |
| Harvests per year | 3–4 in tropics | Regrows from root crown after each cut |
| Dry matter yield | 30–40 t DM/ha/yr (standard) | Up to 80–100 t DM/ha/yr optimal |
| Charcoal conversion rate | 30% | 30–40 t DM → 9–12 t charcoal |
| Charcoal yield | 12–15 tonnes/hectare/year | At standard yield with BonZeb kiln |
| Energy content | 5,924 kcal/kg | Comparable to mid-grade wood charcoal |
| Propagation method | Stem cuttings (vegetative) | No seeds needed. Cut a stem, plant it, it grows. |
| Stand lifespan | 5–10+ years | Plant once, harvest repeatedly for years |
| Water requirements | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established | Survives Haiti’s dry season without irrigation |
| Soil requirements | Extremely tolerant | Grows on degraded, rocky, poor soils... exactly what Haiti has |
Three Grass Species in Haiti (Better Universe & Citizens Program)
| Species | Primary Use | Terrain | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant grass (C. purpureus) | Charcoal feedstock + feed | Steep slopes, degraded land | 3–5m in 180 days |
| Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) | Livestock forage | Semi-arid plains | 1.5–3m |
| Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) | Ground cover, erosion control | Flat terrain, pathways | Low-growing, spreading |
Source: Better Universe and Citizens / Haiti Grass Project, Dr. Katawario. Sites: Gonaïves, St Marc, Bwa Blan, Jacmel, Marigot, Port-au-Prince.
4. Charcoal Production: Kiln, Briquetting, Packaging
Stage 1: Harvesting
Cut mature elephant grass (4–12 months old) at 10–15 cm above ground level using machete or mechanical cutter. Leave the root crown and stubble intact... regrowth begins within days. Field-dry the cut stalks for 3–7 days to reduce moisture content below 20%. Optimal moisture at carbonization: 10–15%.
Stage 2: Carbonization (BonZeb Kiln)
BonZeb Kiln Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Power source | 99% person-powered |
| Emissions | 95% smoke-free |
| Designed for | Elephant grass specifically (not adapted from wood kiln) |
| Fuel/electricity | None required |
| Imported parts | None required |
| Operator skill level | Trainable in 1–2 days |
| Location | On-site at hillside planting (no transport of raw material needed) |
The kiln uses pyrolysis to convert dried grass biomass into charcoal at approximately 30% mass yield. The process is batch-based: load the kiln, seal, ignite, wait for carbonization cycle to complete, cool, unload char.
Stage 3: Briquetting
| Briquetting Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Binder material | Cassava starch (manioc) |
| Binder ratio | 4–8% by weight |
| Starch preparation | Gelatinized (cooked with water to form paste) |
| Mixing | Charcoal powder + starch paste, mixed by hand or mechanical mixer |
| Pressing | Manual lever press or screw press (~$50–150 for manual unit) |
| Briquette shape | Cylindrical with center hole (pillow, honeycomb, or egg shapes also viable) |
| Drying time | 2–5 days sun-drying (humidity dependent) |
| Final moisture | <8% for optimal burn and shelf life |
Stage 4: Packaging & Distribution
Briquettes are packaged in standard-weight bags (5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg) matching existing charcoal market formats. SAKALA branding. Sold through existing market channels... the same madan sara distribution network that moves wood charcoal today. The product slots into existing infrastructure. No new retail channel needed.
5. Dual Purpose: Livestock Feed + Charcoal from Same Crop
Elephant grass is not a single-use crop. The same planting generates two revenue streams from the same land, depending on when you harvest.
Young Harvest (1–3 Months)
Use: Livestock feed
Protein content: 6–10%
Digestibility: High
Market: Goat, cattle, rabbit feed
Revenue: Sold fresh or dried to livestock operations
At this stage, the grass is tender, leafy, and nutritious. It can be fed directly to livestock or chopped and dried as hay. This is the same grass species that SAKALA rabbit franchises can use as feed supplement.
Mature Harvest (4–12 Months)
Use: Charcoal feedstock
Fiber content: High (lignified)
Digestibility: Low (too woody for feed)
Market: Charcoal briquettes
Revenue: $10,000–15,000/ha/yr net
At maturity, the grass has lignified. It is ideal for carbonization. High fiber content = high charcoal yield. The stems are thick, dry easily, and carbonize efficiently in the BonZeb kiln.
6. Revenue Model
Per-Hectare Economics (Annual, Steady State)
| Item | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry matter yield | 30 t DM | 40 t DM | Standard tropical management |
| Charcoal yield (30% conversion) | 9 tonnes | 12 tonnes | BonZeb kiln, 30% mass yield |
| Briquette output (net of binder) | 9.4 tonnes | 12.5 tonnes | +4–8% cassava starch binder by weight |
| Energy content per kg | 5,924 kcal/kg | Competitive with mid-grade wood charcoal | |
| Revenue | |||
| Gross revenue (charcoal briquettes) | $12,000 | $18,000 | At 40–50% below wood charcoal price |
| Additional: livestock feed (young cuts) | $500 | $1,500 | Partial early harvests for feed market |
| Additional: carbon credits (Year 2+) | $179 | $500+ | 1 t CO2e/ha/yr minimum; biochar premium |
| Costs | |||
| Establishment (Year 1 only, amortized) | $124 | $124 | $617/ha amortized over 5-year stand life |
| Harvesting labor (3–4 cuts/year) | $600 | $900 | 12 workers/day at local rates |
| Kiln operation & maintenance | $200 | $400 | Person-powered; minimal material cost |
| Cassava starch binder | $150 | $250 | Locally sourced or grown on-site |
| Briquette pressing & packaging | $300 | $500 | Manual press, bags, labor |
| Transport to market | $200 | $400 | Madan sara network or direct |
| Total annual cost | $1,574 | $2,574 | |
| NET REVENUE PER HECTARE | $10,926 | $17,426 | |
Conservative estimate uses low yield, low revenue, high costs. Net revenue range: $10,000–15,000/ha/yr under standard conditions, up to $17,000+ with feed and carbon credit integration.
Probability Analysis
| Outcome | Probability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Break even within Year 1 | 91% | Establishment cost recovered by 2nd harvest |
| 25% ROI within 10 years | 84% | Accounts for weather variance, pest risk, price fluctuation |
| Negative ROI (total loss) | 9% | Catastrophic weather or security event |
Per-Team Economics (5-Person Youth Crew, 2 Hectares)
| Metric | Annual Value |
|---|---|
| Total hectares managed | 2 ha |
| Gross charcoal revenue | $24,000–$36,000 |
| Total costs | $3,148–$5,148 |
| Net team income | $20,852–$30,852 |
| Per-person annual income | $4,170–$6,170 |
| Per-person monthly income | $348–$514 |
| Haiti median monthly income | ~$100–150 |
7. Startup Costs
Per-Hectare Establishment
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Land clearing & preparation | $80–$120 | Slopes require minimal clearing; grass tolerates debris |
| Stem cuttings (planting material) | $50–$80 | Vegetative propagation; source from existing stands or nursery |
| Planting labor (12 workers/day) | $120–$150 | At $10–$12.50/worker/day, 1–1.5 days for 1 hectare |
| Initial fertilization (optional) | $50–$100 | Rabbit/goat manure from other SAKALA franchises; chemical fertilizer not required |
| TOTAL PER HECTARE | $300–$450 |
Better Universe & Citizens quotes $250/acre ($617/ha) for full establishment including labor. The range above reflects variable terrain difficulty.
Equipment (One-Time, Per Franchise Unit)
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BonZeb kiln (1 unit) | $200–$500 | Locally fabricated; no imported components |
| Manual briquette press | $50–$150 | Lever or screw press; locally made |
| Machetes & cutting tools (5 sets) | $25–$50 | Standard agricultural tools |
| Drying racks / tarps | $30–$60 | For field-drying cut grass and finished briquettes |
| Storage shed (basic) | $100–$200 | Keeps finished briquettes dry |
| Packaging supplies (initial stock) | $50–$100 | Bags, SAKALA branding labels |
| TOTAL EQUIPMENT | $455–$1,060 |
Total Launch Cost (2-Hectare Franchise Unit)
$0 cash
But requires access to trees (increasingly scarce), chainsaw ($300+), transport vehicle, 15–30 year regrowth cycle. Real cost: ecological destruction that makes the next year harder and the next generation poorer.
$1,055–$1,960
2 hectares of slope planting + full equipment package. First revenue at Month 8. 91% probability of breaking even. Land appreciates. Soil stabilizes. Each year is easier than the last.
8. Slope Planting & Erosion Control
Haiti has one of the highest soil erosion rates on earth. Deforested mountainsides lose topsoil with every rainstorm. Hurricane season turns bare slopes into mudslide zones. Port-au-Prince’s informal settlements are built below these slopes. Erosion is not an environmental abstraction... it kills people.
Why Elephant Grass on Slopes Changes Everything
- Dense root system penetrates deep into hillside soil, binding it in place. Root mass develops within 60–90 days of planting.
- Steep terrain is an advantage, not a barrier. Elephant grass thrives on slopes too steep for any food crop. These are the exact hillsides currently eroding into nothing.
- Slope land is cheap or unclaimed. Nobody farms 45-degree mountainsides. SAKALA franchises can access this land at minimal or zero cost.
- Reduces mudslide risk during hurricanes. Established elephant grass stands slow water runoff, trap sediment, and prevent the cascading slope failures that destroy downhill communities.
- Contour planting (rows along the contour lines of the slope) creates natural terraces over time as sediment builds up behind each row.
- No irrigation required. Hillside rainfall capture is sufficient. The grass is drought-tolerant once established.
9. Bamboo + Elephant Grass Two-Crop System
Elephant grass and bamboo are not competitors. They are complements. SAKALA deploys both... on different terrain, at different timescales, for different market segments.
| Parameter | Elephant Grass | Bamboo |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first harvest | 180 days | 2–3 years |
| Startup cost per hectare | $300–$450 | $800–$1,500 |
| Charcoal form | Powdery (briquetting required) | Solid pieces (retains shape) |
| Energy content | 5,924 kcal/kg | 7,000–8,000 kcal/kg |
| Best terrain | Steep slopes, degraded land | Riverbanks, valleys, flat areas |
| Market position | Mass market (40–50% cheaper) | Premium product (hotter, longer burn) |
| Regrowth cycle | 90–120 days between cuts | 2–4 weeks (new shoots), 2–3 years (harvest-ready) |
| Processing | Kiln + briquette press | Kiln only (char retains culm shape) |
| Soil benefit | Erosion control on slopes | Deep soil remediation, water table stabilization |
| Revenue role | Fast cash, volume play | Premium margin, long-term asset |
Year 1: Plant elephant grass on all available slopes. Revenue begins Month 8. Cash flow is immediate.
Year 1 (parallel): Plant bamboo on riverbanks and valley edges. No revenue yet... but the clock starts.
Years 2–3: Elephant grass generates all charcoal revenue. Bamboo grows.
Year 3+: Bamboo begins yielding premium charcoal. Elephant grass continues on slopes. Two products, two price points, two terrain types. Portfolio diversification at the franchise level.
Elephant grass is the engine. Bamboo is the endowment.
10. Carbon Credits
Elephant grass charcoal production generates verifiable carbon removal. This is not an abstraction... it is a revenue stream that international markets are already paying for.
| Carbon Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 sequestration (growing grass) | 1 tonne CO2e/ha/year | From Year 2 (established stand) |
| Biochar carbon removal price | $179/tonne CO2 | Cheapest CDR method available globally |
| Biochar share of all CDR deliveries | 87% | Dominant carbon removal pathway worldwide |
| Soil carbon storage (biochar applied) | 100–1,000+ years | Biochar is stable carbon; does not decompose |
| Additional: avoided deforestation | Variable | Each tonne of grass charcoal = trees NOT cut |
Three Carbon Revenue Pathways
- Pathway 1: Biochar carbon removal credits. When charcoal is applied to soil (as biochar) rather than burned, it stores carbon for centuries. The international voluntary carbon market pays $179/tonne CO2 for biochar-based removal... the cheapest form of durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR). 87% of all CDR deliveries globally come from biochar. A SAKALA franchise can divert a portion of charcoal production to biochar for soil amendment and sell the carbon credits.
- Pathway 2: Avoided deforestation credits. Every tonne of grass charcoal sold replaces a tonne of wood charcoal that would have required cutting trees. This avoided deforestation is creditable under REDD+ and voluntary carbon standards. Haiti’s near-zero forest baseline makes this particularly compelling.
- Pathway 3: Soil carbon accumulation. Elephant grass root systems deposit organic carbon into soil continuously. Over 5–10 years, slope plantings measurably increase soil organic carbon... generating credits under soil carbon verification programs.
11. Partners
BonZeb Inc.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) nonprofit |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Focus | Haiti charcoal alternative technology |
| Website | bonzeb.ngo |
| Founder | Tom Stein |
| Experience | 35 years nonprofit; 7 years Haiti |
| Previous roles | The Haitian Project; Archdiocese of Portland |
| Core contribution | Purpose-built elephant grass kiln (99% person-powered, 95% smoke-free) |
| Target scale | 40,000 acres = charcoal for 9 million people |
| Price target | 40–50% reduction vs. wood charcoal |
SAKALA angle: BonZeb provides the kiln technology. SAKALA provides the franchise network, distribution channel, and youth workforce. BonZeb designs the hardware. SAKALA scales it through 344 franchise nodes. Tom Stein has spent 7 years proving the technology works. SAKALA gives it a market.
Better Universe and Citizens / Haiti Grass Project
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Leader | Dr. Katawario |
| Program | Haiti Grass Project |
| Focus | First commercial grass nurseries in Haiti |
| Sites | Gonaïves, St Marc, Bwa Blan, Jacmel, Marigot, Port-au-Prince |
| Species | Elephant grass, Guinea grass, Bermuda grass |
| Establishment cost | $250/acre ($617/hectare) |
| Labor model | 12 workers/day for planting |
| Primary use | Mountainside planting for erosion control + biomass |
SAKALA angle: Dr. Katawario’s nurseries supply the planting material. His team has already identified and begun planting on mountainside sites across 6 locations. SAKALA franchise teams can source stem cuttings from Haiti Grass Project nurseries, reducing establishment time and ensuring proven genetic stock adapted to local conditions. The 12-workers/day labor model maps directly onto SAKALA’s youth crew structure.
12. Integration with SAKALA Franchise
Franchise Type Classification
Franchise Unit Structure
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Crew size | 5 youth (expandable to 8) |
| Land requirement | 2–5 hectares of slope terrain |
| Land cost | Minimal to zero (unclaimed/unused hillsides) |
| Equipment | 1 BonZeb kiln, 1 briquette press, hand tools |
| Total startup | $1,055–$1,960 (2 ha) |
| First revenue | Month 8 from launch |
| Steady-state income | $20,000–$30,000/year net (2 ha team) |
| Harvest cycle | Every 90–120 days, staggered across plots |
Cross-Franchise Integration
Rabbit franchise sends manure to elephant grass plots as fertilizer
Elephant grass sends young-cut feed to rabbit franchise
Cassava growers supply starch binder for briquetting
Charcoal briquettes sold through Harvest Box or local market via madan sara network
Harvest Box Integration
Elephant grass charcoal briquettes can be featured in the SAKALA Harvest Box as a premium add-on for diaspora subscribers. Positioning: “Charcoal made from grass, not trees. Briquetted by youth who planted the hillside. Every bag = one less tree cut.” The story sells itself. Diaspora households that cook Haitian food want charcoal. Give them charcoal that heals the country instead of destroying it.
Scale Trajectory
| Phase | Hectares | Teams | Annual Charcoal Output | Annual Net Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot (Year 1) | 10 ha | 2–3 | 120–150 tonnes | $100,000–$150,000 |
| Growth (Year 2–3) | 100 ha | 20–25 | 1,200–1,500 tonnes | $1.0–$1.5M |
| Regional (Year 4–5) | 500 ha | 100+ | 6,000–7,500 tonnes | $5.0–$7.5M |
| National (Year 7–10) | 5,000 ha | 1,000+ | 60,000–75,000 tonnes | $50–$75M |
| BonZeb Vision | 16,187 ha (40,000 acres) | — | 194,000–243,000 tonnes | Charcoal for 9 million people |
National scale (5,000 ha) would produce ~6.3–7.9% of Haiti’s annual charcoal consumption (946,500 tonnes). BonZeb’s 40,000-acre vision would supply 20–26% of national demand from grass alone.
13. Dan’s Vision
“You look at those hillsides and everybody sees nothing. I see an enterprise. You put the youth on those slopes with the grass, you give them a kiln, and in six months they are producing charcoal cheaper than anything on the market. Nobody is farming those slopes. Nobody wants that land. That is exactly why it works for us.”
“The kiln is the key. Tom built something that does not need diesel, does not need electricity, does not need anything we do not already have. You cut the grass, you put it in the kiln, you get charcoal. The youth can learn it in two days. And the grass grows back. Every four months you cut again. The same hillside, the same crew, money every quarter.”
“People keep trying to tell Haitians to stop using charcoal. That will never happen. Nine million people cook with charcoal. You cannot change that. What you CAN change is what the charcoal is made from. We change the feedstock, we save the trees, and we give the youth something to do that actually pays. That is the whole thing right there.”