All activities of the project have been designed to benefit the communities and also to implement with the participation of the communities. The project would develop the capacities of the communities to their benefit and the activities are connected with their daily household use of biomass energy with regards to cooking and household industries.
By the introduction technologies on the effective use of biomass which is a renewable energy source, and also the reduction in emission of Green house Gasses (GHGs), the project would contribute to the National Environment Policy at rural levels.
Capacity - Building Component
During the implementation of the project, capacities of different sectors such as beneficiaries, CBOs and NGOs will be enhanced. The beneficiaries would learn to use biomass energy efficiently while reducing the risk of exposure to toxic emissions and reduction of indoor pollution. The NGOs and CBOs would be trained in the technologies and designing and dissemination of improved and efficient wood stoves.
Gender Focus
In designing of the domestic stoves and kitchen improvement, the ideas of the house holder, especially the house wife would be taken into consideration. In case of domestic cooking and household industries, the person involved would be mainly the housewife and all the benefits would be directed towards her. Even in the case of working in kilns, the house wife takes a major role in stacking, unloading and, fetching and preparation of firewood. The involvement of the males in the household is also promoted and encouraged to keep the harmony within the family.
Policy Influence
It is expected that the national policies with regards to biodiversity conservation and reduction of emission of GHGs are addressed at rural level by the project and awareness among communities on these issues are also created.
Replication of project activities
Since the communities have accepted the benefits of the project, the activities could be easily replicated in other areas of similar conditions.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The activities are designed to solve the problems faced by beneficiaries in domestic cooking and household industries with regards to use of biomass energy. With the introduction of stove technologies, kitchen development and kiln development would definitely have a positive effect on their livelihood as these directly contribute to their daily activities and income generation.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The project has been designed to be implemented through CBO small groups who are mostly members of savings and credit programmes of the rural banks. This financial mechanism is used to provide improved stoves to the group members.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The project has no involvement of indigenous people, but its activities can have a benefit for the traditional potter community as the clay improved stoves are manufactured by them and the project is designed to promote the use of these products. The improved kiln technologies too would contribute to their livelihoods.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project is designed to create awareness of public, CBOs and NGOs. During these programmes, the effects of tree felling and forest destruction on environment would be discussed, and relevant knowledge would be provided. The project also aims at reduction of pollution; especially toxic emissions while burning fire wood. During the awareness programmes the effect these on the global warming and other adverse effects on the environment would be discussed and knowledge would be shared.
Planning gef grant
The project was implemented with the participation of rural community and would be difficult to scale it up to a medium sized grant.
Project sustainability
The project would reduce the expenditure on firewood used in domestic cooking and household industries and also the time consumed for these activities would also be reduced. It also provides cleaner environment and comfortable atmosphere to work with. These factors would definitely influence the communities to ensure the sustainability of the project.
Linkages gef projects
This is possible if the target communities are engaged in similar activities in similar situations.
Planning non gef grant
Three is no plan to scale up through non GEF grant
Project Results
It was observed that 50 large improved stoves were constructed during the project period for the household industries. Following are the some of the results produced by the project implementers where amount of firewood used and time consumed for production were observed.
Performance of 3 large improved stoves constructed by the project (Firewood in Kgs., Milk in liters & Time in Minutes)
Test No. Traditional stove Improved stove The difference
Qty. Milk Boiled Amt. firewood used Time spent Qty. Milk Boiled Amt. firewood used Time spent Amt. of Firewood saved Time
1 60 21.0 80 60 14.200 60 7.800(37%) 20(25%)
2 75 18.0 90 75 12.0 65 6.0(33%) 25(27%)
3 24 10.0 70 24 6.750 50 3.250(33%) 20(28%)
The result of the kiln improved which belongs to Mr. K.P. Nihal Shantha was calculated before improvement with that of results obtained after improvement. The results were as follows:
Performance of a kiln to burn 1200 curd pots before and after improvement:
Description Before improvement After improvement Difference
Time taken for stacking 3 hrs. 30 mts. 2 hrs. 15 mts. 1 hrs. 15 mts.
Seasoning with smoke 24 hrs. 24 hrs.
Time taken to burn 6 hrs. 4 hrs. 30 mts. 1 hr. 30 mts.
No. articles blackened 200 25 175 (87.5%)
No. articles broken 65 22 43 (66%)
Amount of firewood used 700 kgs. 510 kgs. 190 kgs. (27.1%)
