Yahia Mahmoud
Senior lecturer
Understanding users' needs is important for the adoption of cleaner biomass cook stoves
Author
Summary, in English
elwood is the main source of cooking and heating energy for households in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, most of these households use inefficient biomass cook stoves, leading to consumption of more fuel and exposure to indoor air pollutants and associate health problems which disproportionately affect women and children. However, adoption of cleaner biomass cook stoves has remained low which could be associated to low understanding of users' needs and preferences among other factors. This study examined the performance and use of efficient gasifier cook stoves in the mid-lowlands, highlands and coastal regions of Kenya. Gasifier stoves that produce char (charcoal when used fuel or biochar when used for soil amendment) while cooking were issued to 150 households for free and their performance in fuel use and household air pollution
in real life assessed among 50% of the households using participatory cooking tests. Further uptake surveys were carried out after 2–3 months about one year after gasifier cook stoves were issued. The gasifier performs better than three-stone open fire as it reduces fuel use by 51% and 28% when char is
considered as fuel and biochar for soil amendment respectively. The new stove reduces concentration of PM2.5 and CO by 90% and 73% respectively. The results showed that after 2-3 months, 86%, 96% and 100% (average 94%) of households were using the stove though at varying frequencies of 4, 9 and 7 (average 7) times per week in Embu, Kwale and Siaya respectively. The use of the new stove was alongside their traditional stoves a common practice known as stove stacking. The gasifier was mainly used to cook foods that required a short cooking time and many preferred to use it to cook dinner. After about one year, 38%, 100 % and 88% (average 75%) of households were using it 3, 2 and 5 (average 3) times per week in Embu, Kwale and Siaya respectively while stove stacking.
The surveys showed that the users liked the gasifier because it saves fuel, produce char used as charcoal providing fuel for other purposes such as ironing clothes and heating space, cook well and burn longer with less smoke and is easy to harvest and cool the char produced. However, despite the positive characteristics the users found it difficult to light from the top, chop wood into required sizes and reload the stove when fuel charred before the food got ready. To meet their cooking and heating needs, households continued to use the traditional three-stone and added the new stove. Users’ needs and preferences need to be understood and considered in the development of cleaner cooking biomass stoves for enhanced adoption and realization of the associated benefits
in real life assessed among 50% of the households using participatory cooking tests. Further uptake surveys were carried out after 2–3 months about one year after gasifier cook stoves were issued. The gasifier performs better than three-stone open fire as it reduces fuel use by 51% and 28% when char is
considered as fuel and biochar for soil amendment respectively. The new stove reduces concentration of PM2.5 and CO by 90% and 73% respectively. The results showed that after 2-3 months, 86%, 96% and 100% (average 94%) of households were using the stove though at varying frequencies of 4, 9 and 7 (average 7) times per week in Embu, Kwale and Siaya respectively. The use of the new stove was alongside their traditional stoves a common practice known as stove stacking. The gasifier was mainly used to cook foods that required a short cooking time and many preferred to use it to cook dinner. After about one year, 38%, 100 % and 88% (average 75%) of households were using it 3, 2 and 5 (average 3) times per week in Embu, Kwale and Siaya respectively while stove stacking.
The surveys showed that the users liked the gasifier because it saves fuel, produce char used as charcoal providing fuel for other purposes such as ironing clothes and heating space, cook well and burn longer with less smoke and is easy to harvest and cool the char produced. However, despite the positive characteristics the users found it difficult to light from the top, chop wood into required sizes and reload the stove when fuel charred before the food got ready. To meet their cooking and heating needs, households continued to use the traditional three-stone and added the new stove. Users’ needs and preferences need to be understood and considered in the development of cleaner cooking biomass stoves for enhanced adoption and realization of the associated benefits
Department/s
- Department of Human Geography
- CIRCLE
Publishing year
2022-04-11
Language
English
Document type
Conference paper: abstract
Topic
- Human Geography
Conference name
3rd Online International Conference on Sustainable <br/>Technology and Development
Conference date
2022-04-11 - 2022-04-11
Status
Published