Hujambo from Uganda!
This afternoon, Dero and I got to visit the Heifer Uganda office. I had the chance to meet a handful of my colleagues and to see where they do their work. A particular treat was meeting Beinempaka Athanasius, who is the program coordinator for the Uganda Domestic Biogas Program. At the bottom of this post is the profile for this project, to give you a little context.
The other five countries under the larger umbrella project are Burkina Fasso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania. In Uganda, a project participant must pay at least 70 percent of the cost of installation. That 70 percent can come from their own savings or through a microcredit loan from a grassroots cooperative. The remaining 30 percent comes from external funding. Currently, there are three different sizes of units available to participants: 6 cubic meters, 9 cubic meters or 12 cubic meters. There is talk of adding a model in 4 cubic meters. The cost of the smallest unit (6 meters) is approximately U.S. $700. To Dero and me, that sounded like nothing. But to Heifer Uganda staff, as well as the participants, that’s a mighty hefty sum.
A challenge that this project has faced is cultural acceptance of the biogas units. To combat this, Heifer Uganda has worked to sensitize communities to how the units can help them. They even have a mobile unit they take with them to make demonstrations. It is often easier to get a family to buy into the concept of using their livestock’s waste to make fuel for cooking and lighting; human waste (which produces a great deal of methane and acts as a catalyst to speed up the breakdown of livestock manure) is another story. Each time a biogas unit is installed, however, a pipe is connected to the composting toilet, but the valve is not turned on until the family agrees to it.
Mobile biogas unit.
Heifer Uganda staff showed us a handful of biogas stovetops and lamps. Until recently, the project imported the stovetops from China. They soon realized, though, that they could teach people to make them locally and less expensively. Surprisingly, the lamps imported from China cost less and are more efficient than anything that can be made here in Uganda. There is such a high demand in Kenya for the lamps, in fact, that you can find them in markets across the country.
The bottom stovetop is the import from China.
The one on top was designed and made in Uganda.
This is the Lotus2. It is the newest biogas stovetop being made in Uganda.
Although biogas has been catching on in Uganda and the other countries participating in the project, it appears that because of the struggle to market the units, as well as the time it takes to train the technicians, promoters and service providers, Heifer Uganda will fall short of installing the target number of biogas units. With such an exciting and promising appropriate technology, it is easy to see how ambitious a project might become, planning to install too many in too short a time.
But there’s absolutely no doubt that these units are changing people’s lives. I look forward to visiting, and sharing with you, families who already have biogas units installed and in use.
What do you think? What would it take to convince you that biogas is the way to go? What questions do you have about biogas?
–Photography by Dero Sanford
Uganda Domestic Biogas Program
The growing demand for fuel has resulted in pressure being exerted on the environment. Trees are cut to provide wood and charcoal for cooking, and burning of fossil fuels has had damaging effects on the environment. Smoke from burning of fuel wood is a hazard to human health. In addition, the cost of domestic fuel is much higher than most households in Uganda can afford. Biogas provides a cheap alternative source of energy for cooking and lighting. The Uganda Domestic Biogas Program therefore aims at addressing this gap by developing and disseminating domestic biogas in rural and semi-urban areas offering the Ugandan population the benefits derived from the use of clean biogas for cooking and lighting and using the bio-slurry to increase agricultural yields with the ultimate goal to establish a sustainable and commercial biogas sector in Uganda.The program will target 12,160 biogas households in the five-year project cycle. Biogas technology as local knowledge has not been institutionally operational in many parts of Uganda, and the introduction will be a considerate and phased approach. During the first six months, at least 120 biogas plants will be constructed – 90 demonstration and 30 regular plants. The program will start in more densely populated areas, particularly where dairy activities are common (e.g., where Heifer Uganda, Send A Cow and other NGOs have placed cows). Outreach will be improved by making use of partnerships particularly with NGOs, local councils and religious communities active in remote areas.A multi-stakeholders sector development approach will be used and is based on the establishment, over time, of a market for domestic biogas installations and accessories, in which a well-informed demand side (i.e., in which clients who know what they want and recognize quality and value for money links up with an equally capable supply side that provides the market with quality products at competitive prices and with adequate after-sales services). Such a market is expected to reach a volume that allows a significant number of constructors and credit providers to maintain an economically-sound and profitable level of turnover. In the process toward market development, the government, civil society organizations, and other players in the public and private domain have a role to play, in addition to the main actors in the market.Particular attention will be paid to vocational training and business development. In Uganda, there are few contractors and skilled masons. No hard data is available on the presence of appropriate construction companies willing and able to build, maintain and repair bio-digesters. Most of the registered construction companies are located in the urban centers. In the past, numerous artisans have been trained in all kinds of masonry and have now established their own micro-enterprises, often not registered as a company. These artisans have the basic knowledge to qualify for the bio-digester mason training and are ideally situated in the villages. If there are not enough registered construction companies available to satisfy the demand, self-employed artisans will be approached to form bio-digester construction teams. The perspective is that these teams will transform into small but full-fledged companies in the long run.
Lived and worked in Uganda (Kampala & Gulu) for 6 mos 2008 on an Organic Cotton supply chain project, saw the need for fuel and food (lots of bush meat being harvested against the law)and can appreciate first hand what Heifer is doing-keep up the great work, my project had the same approach, i.e. "teach" a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime. Have a successful 2011 and remember me to one of my favorite places on earth-UGANDA!
Nick Hahn
HAHN INTERNATIONAL, LTD
East Haddam, CT USA
e: nhahn1@gmail.com
Thanks, Nick, for you comment and good work in Uganda. Isn't it a wondrously beautiful place? I'm curious–in your work there in the cotton supply chain, what did you see as the biggest triumphs and struggles of the process?
As for the bush meat issue, you might be interested to know about Heifer's work in Ghana to domesticate the grasscutter. I realize this isn't Uganda, but we've had quite a bit of success helping families improve their own nutrition and increase their income by raising grasscutters, which is traditionally hunted and sold as bushmeat. We don't yet have much written about it, but here is a story that gives a bit more detail: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.3856653/.
This passage seems to contradict itself: "Until recently, the project imported the stovetops from China. They soon realized, though, that they could teach people to make them locally and less expensively. Surprisingly, the lamps imported from China cost less and are more efficient than anything that can be made here in Uganda." Can you clarify? I'd like to share this article but it sounds as if they decided it's not a good idea to manufacture locally after all, yet that doesn't seem to be the gist of the article. Perhaps I'm reading this wrong?
Hi, Anonymous. Sorry for any confusion. Let me see if I can help sort this out.
There are two biogas appliances being used in our biogas projects: stoves and lamps. First, let's talk stoves. At the beginning of the project, the stoves were being imported from China (first picture, bottom green stove). Project staff found, however, that a similar stove could be constructed locally at a lower cost and discontinued importing the stoves from China. An early model is in the first picture, top green stove. The most recent model is called the Lotus2. It is a single-plate design that was adapted from a Cambodian model. You can see the Lotus2 in action in the last video here: http://blog.heifer.org/2010/12/biogas-is-important-for-rural-women.html
A side-effect of teaching local people to manufacture stoves is that it helps build the local economy.
Okay, so on to the lamps. There was a locally fabricated lamp that Heifer Uganda staff looked into using, but when compared to those imported from China (which are apparently in huge demand in Kenya–so much so they are sold in local markets), they are considerably more expensive and less efficient. To see a biogas lamp in action, watch this video: http://blog.heifer.org/2011/01/biogas-is-important-for-rural-children.html
I hope this helps; let me know if you have any other questions!
I am interested in installing biogass in my homestead. Where is the nearest source to Rubirizi District? Post reply to my email
dronodafe@yahoo.com
Ephraim
Kizirugo
Rubirizi District
Uganda
Hi,
I'm part of a voluntary organisation which consists of a small group of Civil Engineers in the UK who design and manage small projects that improve public health in developing countries. We are currently working on a school in Kapiri (Teso), in Uganda and are looking to implement a biogas system which will be fed from human waste. I was wondering if you please have any information that may be helpful to us or any local contacts/suppliers?
Many thanks,
Abby Downing
Engineers for Overseas Development (EFOD)
abby_downing@hotmail.com
Abby, Heifer has a biogas office in Mbale – maybe you can try there…
Hi Abby. I've sent in a request to staff in Uganda for the best contact information to give you. Will it be alright if I send it to your hotmail address when I get it?
Thanks for reading, and thank you for the good work you are doing in Uganda.
Hi there, I am interested in installing biogas plant in my homestead/farm (15 cattle). Where is the nearest source to Fort Portal District? Post reply to my email: Joemugisa@gmail.com
Many thanx,
Joe Mugisa
HWM Architects,
Nelspruit. South Africa
Joe, I am passing your request for information on to our folks in South Africa. Someone will contact you to at the email address you listed. Thanks for visiting!
Hi, i'm right here in Kampala i'm also interested in instaling Biogas in my home but i have relatively small space, please get me the Kampala contact person so that i can discuss in detail with him or even have him check out my place as i get profesional advice.
Samalie
Hi there, I'm Larry and I've picked interest in biogas which I think can be a perfect substitute for our Hydro power which is ever off!! I'd therefore need to get in touch with the people responsible here in Kampala so that we work it out at my home coz I have four cows which I think can provide enough dung for the energy. My address is "larrykayemba@yahoo.co.uk"
Thanks
Samalie and Larry, the telephone for the Heifer office in Uganda is 256 414 231828, and the email is heiferuganda@heifer.org.
Thanks!
Hi good people, i have been impressed by the biogas technology and lately been looking around to have it installed at my home. I have four cows, 20 pigs and 1000 birds, all located in Kira Wakiso Dostrict. How can i access assistance?
is it also possible for one to train in construction and maintenance in biogas as a vocational?
Sk. stevekwezi@gmail.com
Hello, Steve. telephone for the Heifer office in Uganda is 256 414 231828, and the email is heiferuganda@heifer.org. They will be in a better position to answer your technical questions. Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your biogas installation. Sounds like you have a very diverse farm!
thank you Brooke, i am eager to make contact very soon. Much appreciated.
Iam in Mukono – Uganda, looking for a good milk giving cow ; zero grazing. From which i hope to go biogas. Waiting for repply (i want to buy) thanx. Vicent
Hi Vincet, thanks for your interest. Please contact heiferuganda@heifer.org for more information about our biogas projects in Uganda.
i have go an interest in bio gas, am a ugandan and living there too. how do i get access to bio gas and at what cost. please some help. i have a piggery project with 4 pigs. can it be helpfull any way as far biogas generatiion is concerned?
thanks so much.
Hi Geoffrey, the telephone for the Heifer office in Uganda is 256 414 231828, and the email is heiferuganda@heifer.org. If you’ll contact them, I’m sure they will point you in the right direction.
am a farmer in mubende with 50 plus Frisian crosses and interested in bio gas project. where is your nearest contact person
Hello Alex. The telephone for the Heifer office in Uganda is 256 414 231828, and the email is heiferuganda@heifer.org. Best of luck with your cattle and biogas efforts!
Please furnish me with information on equipment to use. I have already contacted
somebody but he is not an expert. I want to have in Kasese here and extend it to my home in Rubirizi District if i get information proper. All expenditure is mine just feed me with information on equipment only’. Can one use also poultry feces because i am keeping them.
Hi Joseph. When you said you contacted someone, did you mean someone in the Heifer office? I am also not an expert, so I am not qualified to give you information on what equipment to use. I can tell you that chicken waste can be used to feed a biogas unit.
Thanks for producing biogas in Uganda. I would like to be trained in biogas production;from constructing a biodigester up to a final stage of producing gas Please can you tel me the cost of training and where in uganda I can get training.I’m basing in Mutukula /Tanzania border Rakai District please respond through my email.
Dear sir/ madam
I have a Secondary School at Kakiri on Hoima Rd. Our existing toilets are just about full i am very keen to introduce bio-gas at the school. I want to plan for this as i plan for our new toilets. Any information contacts would be most appreciated
Rick
Hi Rick. The telephone for the Heifer office in Uganda is 256 414 231828, and the email is heiferuganda@heifer.org. They will be best able to advise you on who to contact locally. Best of luck with your efforts!
Thanks!
i am Nicholas, i would like to start up a bio gas project at our village where is the
nearest source to Bugiri District? Post reply to my email: