Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Even with LPG penetration, Harahi, a village in the Ranchi district in Eastern India used large quantities of firewood or dung cakes for cooking. 37 of 39 households in the village used biomass for cooking to some degree while 5 houses of the 39 used only biomass for cooking. Keeping in mind the adverse health effects of traditional, open-stove cooking with biomass, especially on women and young children, through this project, Gram Oorja wanted to provide smoke-free and ash-free kitchens to these rural households. 

Collecting firewood over half a kilometer to 3 kilometers from the village 3 to 4 times a week was common in the village. It consumed a lot of time and effort. The burden of collecting firewood fell disproportionately on women. Carrying these bundles of firewood over their heads also caused a lot of health issues. Purchasing a firewood bundle for around USD 2 was also expensive.

There was a large bovine population available in the village. The project was designed for using cow dung (available abundantly and locally) as feedstock. Thus, the long-term sustainability of the project was ensured. 

In addition to its use for cooking gas, the by-products of the biogas-based cooking grid are used as manure, which enables villagers to save money incurred on buying fertilizers.

The project was formed with the thought of solving the energy problem locally with the resources available there and yet providing a world-class cooking experience to the beneficiaries. The project was commissioned in December 2020.

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In rural India, biomass is still used for cooking. In the village of Harahi, 37 out of 39 households used firewood in some quantities for cooking. This results in prolonged exposure to smoke for the women and children in these areas. The biogas plant improves indoor air quality resulting in improved health indicators like easier breathing and reduction in eye irritation ailments.

In the baseline survey, households reported traveling to nearby forests and fields to collect fuelwood traveling anywhere between 0.3 km to 3 km on regular basis. The burden of collecting fuelwood falls disproportionately on the women of the household. Households have also reported collecting fuelwood up to 3-4 times a week. Some households reported buying 4-5 firewood bundles per month from a vendor at a cost of USD 2 per bundle. With the biogas grid in place, women do not have to go through the drudgery of collecting firewood and bringing a load of firewood on their heads. This in turn also resolves the health issues like neck and spinal problems in women from cropping up.

Baseline survey also reported that due to traditional cooking practices, a woman spent more than 3 hours in the kitchen cooking every day. Women have more free time now and can engage more with their families or work towards increasing their livelihoods.

Three women are a part of the seven-member energy committee that operates and maintains the grid. Since this project specifically addresses gender and equality issues, engaging proactively with women is also a duty of the village energy committee which can then address pain points if any. The process is designed so that women from the community are empowered.

Economically weaker, small landholding farmers must purchase expensive chemical fertilizers. With the intervention, farmers in the region get access to cheap and nutrient-rich organic fertilizer which becomes a contributor to increased income.

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