BIOGAS PROJECT IMPLEMENTATIONABSTRACT
From the year 2000 to 2004 The NGO ‘SCOPE’ constructed 45 Biogas plants with Toilets attahced in three villages of Haveli Taluka. This survey evaluates their use and impact.
It was found that, as a result of the use of biogas plants, 28.8% of households stopped using LPG cylinders 22.2% reduced their consumption of kerosene and 55.5% reduced their use of fire wood and dung cake fuels, Additionally, at the same time 28.8% income rose due to applying biogas manure. Moreover in 75.5% of households women benefited through reduction of labour in fuel collection and improved their health and hygiene, significantly.
Thus the biogas plants not only concerns with the energy problem but also development of rural economy conservation of environments, reduction the health complaints, and the welfare of women in particular.
Dinbandhu Gas System
BACKGROUNDThe concept of ‘Biogas’ is not new to the people of Tulapur, Dongargaon and Nhaavi Saandas villages. Around 1990 the ‘Gobar (cow dung) Gas’ Scheme had been started by NGO’s and subsidized by the Government. Thus many farmers in this locality succeeded in constructing the biogas plants. In 1995 the initial ‘Gobar Gas’ Scheme was closed. Subsequently, with approval of AFPRO NGO, the government developed Dinbandhu Biogas Model. The original subsidy of the Gobar Gas Plant was Rs. 6,000/-. In the course of time the Govt. reduced it to Rs. 2,300/- and people were attracted to the cheaper Dinbandhu Model, whose cost of construction was Rs. 10,500/-. A new phase of Scheme, the Gramapanchayat and Panchyat Samiti took over the scheme’s implementation in association with NGO, SCOPE. (Gramapanchayat & Panchayat Samiti along with NGO, SCOPE launched a new phase of scheme).
SCOPE visited Biogas units which had been built earlier and asked farmers about their experience. As the biogas plants were not installed in proper way, many of the plants were found in nonworking condition and most of the farmers held negative opinions. At the same tie majority male inhabitants had knowledge about Biogas Plants and the scheme. But the women were uninvolved in the same.
SCOPE found the following main reasons for the negative opinion about biogas plants.
1) Subsidy to build the biogas plant was low.
2) The plants would generally stop cooking in about two months only.
3) Hence Gas production was insufficient. Farmers delayed or stopped feeding the cow-
SCOPE found the following main reasons for the negative opinion about biogas plants.
1) Subsidy to build the biogas plant was low.
2) The plants would generally stop cooking in about two months only.
3) Hence Gas production was insufficient. Farmers delayed or stopped feeding the cow-
dung entirely .
4) Hence, people lacked knowledge to repair-problems like leakage of gas and
accumulation of water in the pipe.
5) People felt that repair of the plants was the responsibility of the Govt. or the
Gramapanchayat.
Because of such reasons the farmers were not eager to install and maintain the biogas plants.
The Locality Prior to SCOPE’s Biogas Implementation :
Hoping to attract the women’s attention SCOPE made an effort to attend the Mahila Bachat Gat Meeting, but the women always used to come late. Moreover the women had to come home for cooking 2-3 hrs. early, from there work as agriculture laborers and hunt for firewood. Make dung cakes and store for the whole year. Many poor families had to buy kerosene at black market rate for cooking and light. Most of the households were using the LPG cylinders though they were expensive, due to problems of lungs and eyes caused by smoke from burning firewood or dung cakes.
Despite the men being family Head’s the physical work was done mostly by women. According to women, they were kept from broad thinking. This led to ignorance about physical health and intellectual development.
SCOPE observed that compared to men, the women to a great extent had closer relationship with the environment, as well as with their own families. In the earlier Gobar Gas scheme the 75% of the beneficiaries were those who were economically, socially and politically strong. The socio-economically backward families, whose daily needs were never sufficiently met with, could ill afford to participate in the scheme. Seeing all this, SCOPE felt that women from these classes, would benefit tremendously economically.
Initially, the women were reluctant to discussed about the New Bbiogas Scheme when SCOPE approached them. This was done with the women from the concerned villages in their Mahila Bachat Gats. Subsequently, the training workshop was organized by SCOPE with the help of Panchayat Samitee, ‘Haveli and other NGO’s.The men folk were taken into confidence. Hence, they also contributed along with women.
There was a major difficulty, about the government subsidy. The policy was that it was to be given only after the construction of Biogas Plant. The minimal subsidy was i.e. Rs. 2300/- compared to the total cost of Biogas Plant, that is Rs. 10, 500/- along with toilets attached to the plant. The expenditure for construction of biogas was discussed in the meeting of Mahila Bachat Gat. All women agreed to construct Biogas units first and to collect the government subsidy later.The fund from Mahila Bachat Gas was decided to be distributed personally for the whole Biogas scheme and the down payment with interest was decided to give as a loan per the rules of Mahila Bachat Gat.
The SCOPE decided to give its revolving fund to three Mahila Bachat Gats (WSGs) without interest and the men agreed to support women.
SCOPE established a Biogas committee of 5 women & 2 men members. The men would do the more physically strenuous work. On behalf of 45 beneficiaries the committee members decided to buy all the material required to build the Biogas plants ( e.g. bricks, sand, cement, pipes, stove) Together, so that the expenditure would be less. The scheme was started and the women were eager to make the biogas scheme a success.
The factors causing the success of scheme are given further under findings.
AREA UNDER SURVEY
All the surveyed villages namely Tulapur, Dongargaon, Nhaavi Saandas are the villages of Haveli Taluka. The western area of Haveli Taluka (block) is hilly whereas eastern area is flat ( plateau). The total area of the Taluka is 1,30,140 hectare. Out of which cultivated area is 53,900 hectare. average rainfall is 580 mm. Total Village are 117. The population of Tulapur is 2039, Dongargaon 2233 & Nhaavi Saandas is 1369. The population of cattle in Tulapur is 256, in Dongargaon 393, and in Nhaavi Saandas is 540.
Majority of the people from these village are cattle owning and hence into dairy farming.
See the map of Haveli Taluka in Annexure – I.
METHODOLOGYThe study was conducted mainly on the basis of a lengthy questionnaire adminito the 45 beneficiary families.
( See Annexure II ) SCOPE asked for basic data on the family, their livestock ( including feeding), domestic fuel ( for cooking / lighting) and comparison of fuel costs before and after installation of biogas plants.
The remaining questions were of Yes/No and open – ended nature.
For the preparation OR questionnaire we studied the whole mechanism of biogas production, various types of designs of biogas plants and its applications, methods to install and repair. We also referred the books, journals & Research papers.
In this survey the investigation chiefly focused on the study of benefits by using biogas fuel to replace all the conventional energy fuels like firewood & dung cakes, to judge the benefit on the uses and also to evaluate benefits from biogas plants in all the three villages in all senses.
FINDINGS & ANALYSIS
On studying the questionnaires after interviewing the people from all the three village, we found that, out OR total 45 Biogas plants constructed the year from 2002 – 2004, there are 36 biogas plants in working condition and 9 are in working condition. Out of these 9 invalid plants five biogas plants are from the village Nhaavi Saandas which are not yet started due to scarcity of dung to feed the plants. The remaining four plants are found to be damaged, after use or negligence.
The details are given in Table No.
Year of Construction 2002 2003 2004 (2002 – 2004)
Tulapur 11 (9)
Dongargaon 10 (8)
N. Saandas 24 (19)
Total B. Plants 45 (36)
Table No. 1 showing no. of plants in the villages & year of construction
Note : The no. of plants in ( ) are in working condition.
SCOPE succeeded in achieving their goal after installation of Biogas plants.
On analysis of the data collected, following factors were found responsible to achieve the scheme's success.
1.. The conservation of firewood & purchase of all other types of fuel in every household
significantly reduced the stress on environment.
2.. Since, dung was fed into the Biogas Plants instead of burning as fuel, as they did earlier or
dumping it in heaps, the environment was clearer.
3.. As the constructed toilets were attached to the Biogas plants, the problem of sanitation was
solved tremendously. This made the surrounding cleaner.
4.. Use of dung was improved. In place of fuel. Moreover, the slurry was used for composting.
5.. Most of the households reduced or stopped the use of LPG cylinders. The durability of
LPG cylinder in use was increased from two to six months.
6.. The expenditure on kerosene was no longer needed.
7.. Social equality was promoted as poor and rich farmers were treated as equal.
8.. The people themselves began repairing the plants which were in disuse due to poor
awareness about Biogas technology.5.. Most of the households reduced or stopped the use of LPG cylinders. The durability of
LPG cylinder in use was increased from two to six months.
6.. The expenditure on kerosene was no longer needed.
7.. Social equality was promoted as poor and rich farmers were treated as equal.
8.. The people themselves began repairing the plants which were in disuse due to poor
Table No. 2 : shows the no. of households & percentage of people get benefited by these of Biogas plants.
1. Earlier owning LPG cylinder 19, 41.8%
2. Stopped using LPG cylinder 13, 28.8%
3. Having reduced use of kerosene 10, 22.2%
4. Having reduces use of Firewood 25, 55.5%
5. Earning more from use of Biogas man use 13, 28.8%
6. With damaged plants 9, 6.6%
7. In which women benefited 34, 75.5%
Fig No. 1 Graph showing the households benefited
From the above findings, it is clear that the 75.5 households in comparison with all other benefits, the largest benefit is to women.
The women benefited in the following sense:
1. Their daily drudgery for searching & collecting firewood is reduced.
2. They stopped worrying, during monsoon season about firewood, collecting wet firewood or the burning sensation in eyes while cooking.
3.. The amount of time for cooking is reduced to about half.
4.. Their houses are clean & tidy so are the clothes & utensils.
5.. The women working as agriculture labourers are above to work for whole day with out a cut remuneration.
6.. Fire Hazard reduced as dry wood no more stored in house.
During the survey it was also found that some people availed of more benefit from biogas plant. e.g. They collected slurry, an organic manure once in six months. This led to evaporation of ammonia with all other nutrient gases, reducing its nutrient value.
DISCUSSION
Some myths among the people, as follows :
1.. All the nutrients according to the people were used in the production of biogas. Hence, they considered slurry (manure) as garbage with less or no nutrients. Due to this they stopped feeding the required amount of dung though it was available. Instead they used half of the dung to heap for composting.
2.. The people are reluctant to utilize the other organic raw material from kitchen to feed the plant because they felt they were committing sin to mix it with cow dung and human excreta.
3.. Some of the people don’t want to use the toilet which are in connection with biogas plants, as they are using biogas for cooking purpose, as a result they get less amount of biogas & a manure with less amount of Nitrogen.
2. Stopped using LPG cylinder 13, 28.8%
3. Having reduced use of kerosene 10, 22.2%
4. Having reduces use of Firewood 25, 55.5%
5. Earning more from use of Biogas man use 13, 28.8%
6. With damaged plants 9, 6.6%
7. In which women benefited 34, 75.5%
Fig No. 1 Graph showing the households benefited
From the above findings, it is clear that the 75.5 households in comparison with all other benefits, the largest benefit is to women.
The women benefited in the following sense:
1. Their daily drudgery for searching & collecting firewood is reduced.
2. They stopped worrying, during monsoon season about firewood, collecting wet firewood or the burning sensation in eyes while cooking.
3.. The amount of time for cooking is reduced to about half.
4.. Their houses are clean & tidy so are the clothes & utensils.
5.. The women working as agriculture labourers are above to work for whole day with out a cut remuneration.
6.. Fire Hazard reduced as dry wood no more stored in house.
During the survey it was also found that some people availed of more benefit from biogas plant. e.g. They collected slurry, an organic manure once in six months. This led to evaporation of ammonia with all other nutrient gases, reducing its nutrient value.
DISCUSSION
Some myths among the people, as follows :
1.. All the nutrients according to the people were used in the production of biogas. Hence, they considered slurry (manure) as garbage with less or no nutrients. Due to this they stopped feeding the required amount of dung though it was available. Instead they used half of the dung to heap for composting.
2.. The people are reluctant to utilize the other organic raw material from kitchen to feed the plant because they felt they were committing sin to mix it with cow dung and human excreta.
3.. Some of the people don’t want to use the toilet which are in connection with biogas plants, as they are using biogas for cooking purpose, as a result they get less amount of biogas & a manure with less amount of Nitrogen.
biogas plant connected to toilet (picture to be uploaded)
Some people do not collect the organic manure coming out, for the prolonged time, as they required to collect it daily and drop it in the fields in liquid condition. Because as the time passes, the manure looses its nutrients by evaporation, so that there is less field in the production of crops.
Because of scarcity of cow dung in many areas, particularly of small no. of cows than needed owned by majority of rural family, utilization of other raw material has become necessary.
RECOMMENDATION
With the survey findings & discussion in view, we make the following recommendations.
1.. To meet the short fall in supply of manure, efforts, need to be made to convince people to use other biogas sources like domestic waste, agriculture waste etc.
2.. It is necessary to make the people understand that they should use the manure daily so that they will get maximum crop yield with use of maximum nutrients.
3.. The people should be guided will, so as to overcome their foolish thinking or myths.
CONCLUSION
This survey has established that,
1.. Biogas technology has been widely welcomed by farmers because of its obvious benefits. To supply energy for cooking can not be the only goal to develop the biogas technology. The economic benefit from the comprehensive utilization promotes its development strongly.
2.. As some of the biogas plants are not in working condition due to their improper use & negligence, we can conclude that the farmers commonly feel it inconvenient to manage the digester. Along with increase of commercial value, the construction of biogas plant, its maintenance, management and the utilization of sludge & slurry need all to be commercialized.
3.. Along with the improvement of Farmers daily life, the environmental benefit of Biogas technology will increasingly be taken seriously. The development of Biogas technology is a good prospect as an important factor of high quality, high agricultural yield and a key means for farmers to become better-off.
Thus, with implementation of the recommendations we hope to see the scheme progressing more in the future.
ANNEXURE - I
Map of Haveli Taluka
ANNEXURE - II
Questionnaire
1. Personal Details :
Village :
Taluka :
District :
A.. Name of Head of family
B.. Caste (Economic Status): SC/ST/OBC/OPEN
C.. Ration Coupon No.
D.. Occupation :
Primary : Secondary :
Some people do not collect the organic manure coming out, for the prolonged time, as they required to collect it daily and drop it in the fields in liquid condition. Because as the time passes, the manure looses its nutrients by evaporation, so that there is less field in the production of crops.
Because of scarcity of cow dung in many areas, particularly of small no. of cows than needed owned by majority of rural family, utilization of other raw material has become necessary.
RECOMMENDATION
With the survey findings & discussion in view, we make the following recommendations.
1.. To meet the short fall in supply of manure, efforts, need to be made to convince people to use other biogas sources like domestic waste, agriculture waste etc.
2.. It is necessary to make the people understand that they should use the manure daily so that they will get maximum crop yield with use of maximum nutrients.
3.. The people should be guided will, so as to overcome their foolish thinking or myths.
CONCLUSION
This survey has established that,
1.. Biogas technology has been widely welcomed by farmers because of its obvious benefits. To supply energy for cooking can not be the only goal to develop the biogas technology. The economic benefit from the comprehensive utilization promotes its development strongly.
2.. As some of the biogas plants are not in working condition due to their improper use & negligence, we can conclude that the farmers commonly feel it inconvenient to manage the digester. Along with increase of commercial value, the construction of biogas plant, its maintenance, management and the utilization of sludge & slurry need all to be commercialized.
3.. Along with the improvement of Farmers daily life, the environmental benefit of Biogas technology will increasingly be taken seriously. The development of Biogas technology is a good prospect as an important factor of high quality, high agricultural yield and a key means for farmers to become better-off.
Thus, with implementation of the recommendations we hope to see the scheme progressing more in the future.
ANNEXURE - I
Map of Haveli Taluka
ANNEXURE - II
Questionnaire
1. Personal Details :
Village :
Taluka :
District :
A.. Name of Head of family
B.. Caste (Economic Status): SC/ST/OBC/OPEN
C.. Ration Coupon No.
D.. Occupation :
Primary : Secondary :
2.. Family Details
Sr. No.
Name
Relation with Head of the family
Age
Male/ Female
Education
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
3.. Details of livestock owned :
Type
No.
Feeding in shed / Field
Use (Self/Sale)
Bullock/ cow
(Native / hybrid)
Buffalo
Goat
Hen
Others
Note :- Milk production ( ), egg ( ), other :
4.. Facilities available at home :
Type
Cooking
lighting
Source
Monthly expenditure
LPG Cylinder
Dung Cake
Oil Lamp
Stove
Smokeless Chulha
Gobar Gas
Electricity
Cost ( Before installation of Biogas Plant)
Fuel
Price
Before
Now
Gas
Kerosene
Firewood
6.. For what purpose do you spend saved money ?
7.. Who started the scheme of Biogas plant ? and when ?
8.. Cost of Biogas plant.
9.. Did the expenditure on chemical Fertilizer reduce ?
10.. Ws there increase in the crop yield from the same land ?
11.. The poor ladies, who can not afford to buy the firewood, were there labour reduced to
search & collect firewood.
12.. Increase in the crop yield because of working in the field for more hours due to time saved of Did you get the full money working as a labourer.
13.. The savings of money on the transportation of LPG cylinder.
14.. Reduction on the expenditure of firewood & Kerosene for domestic stores.
Benefit regarding National Development.
1.. Minimization in the shortfalls of chemical fertilizer because of organic manure.
2.. Conservation of Environment due to deforestation, for firewood.
3.. Minimization in the pollution or environment protection because of use of biogas, instead of domestic smokey-chulhas (ovens).
SOCIAL BENEFITS :
1.. The poor/rich farmers were promoted as same by the change in life pattern.
2.. The improvement in the cultural & social environment in the village because of savings in time & work-
3.. The cleanliness of the environment was maintained.
4.. Minimization in the contagious diseases.
FAMILY BENEFITS :
1.. Increase in the crop yield due to use of organic manure.
2.. Minimization in problems of eyes and lungs of housewives due to smoke.
3.. The time and money conserved due to family health improvement.
LOSSES :
1.. Is there any problem by handling the sluzzy, coming out? if yes what ?
2.. The possibility of danger of danger of pollution of drinking water increased due to mishandling of sluzzy.
3.. Any losses due to biogas plants, you realized ?
Reasons Damaging the Biogas Plant.
1) What is the temperature of slurry in the digester?
2) What is the ratio of cattle dung & water mixed in digester?
3) What is the PTI OR slurry before and during digestion?
4) Where is the location OR plant in shadow/sunlight?
5) What is the soil type, rocky/clay/sandy where biogas plant is installed?
6) Do you use phenol/acid to clean the toilets?
7) Do when did the Biogas plant was installed?
8) What is the volume or size of Biogas plant?
9) When installed, after how many days it was fed.
10) How long it took time for feeding?
11) What was the amount of cattle dung required? to feed the plant first time completely.
12) How many days old was the cattle dung?
13) What is amount of dung requires to be fed daily?
14) When the Biogas plant was filled totally with dung and water, did you get gas from starting?
15) How long you use the Biogas daily?
16) Did the gas production stop suddenly?
17) Do you get biogas continuously?
18) Didn’t you get the biogas from starting?
19) After starting the Biogas Plant when was the gas production reduced or stopped.
20) Is the biogas plant completely filled by slurry?
21) Is the volume of slurry coming out is equal to the volume of slurry fed.
22) What is the color of manure greenish blackish?
23) Does the manure come out from outlet or overflow from the sides of the plant.
24) Does the gas make noise while cooking? if yes what do you do.
25) Is the gas pipeline joined with straight slope?
26) Did you make any way to come out the water accumulated in the gas pipe.
27) What is the length and diameter of gas pipe.
28) Is the nozzle of burner of proper size?
29) Is the chip, fixed properly in the place, where gas and oxygen are mixed.
30) Do you get same amount of gas in all there seasons of the year?
ANNEXURE – III
Sample CASE STUDY
Mrs. Padmavati Popat Shiwale a woman approximately in her forty lives in Tulapur village. Her husband, Popat Vithoba Shiwale is head of the family of seven members. Padmavati works as agricultural labourer and also works in her field (for two houses daily). A day’s work on fields entitles Padmavati Rs.45/- per day as remuneration. But rarely Padmavati was able to avail of this money. Instead, she opted to collect wood in exchange of her day’s labour.
Whe used to work on the filed from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for a period of fifteen days and the next-fifteen days she had to collect firewood for the family. The amount of firewood she could collect, did not last entire month, especially during winters. So, often shrubs and other dry biomass for fuel purposes.
But now, after the installation of Biogas Plant in her house, it has been giving her good service for the past three years. Her daily drudgery of collecting firewood has disappeared and she is extremely pleased with switching on and switching off facility of worry during monsoon season about firewood getting wet or burning sensation eyes while cooking with firewood. On the contrary cooking time is reduced to half the time required earlier. Padmavati used to spend two hours each morning and each evening for cooking. Now she could attend to other domestic work as she was not required in front of the stove to monitor the flame or blow air unlike the chulah for the entire cooking, now her house is clean and so are the clothes and utensils. She says, “Preparing food in the rainy season was a Herculean task as damp wood failed to catch fire and if did catch fire, it emitted enormous amount of smoke.
Most of all Padmavati found biogas extremely safe. There were occasions when Padmavati had inadvertantly left the gas on for entire night, but unlike LPG, biogas did not cause any fire outbreak.
this page is under construction
