Impact of Biogas on Reducing Firewood Usage in Rural Households

Firewood collection is a daily burden for rural women in hilly regions. Our household biogas project replaced traditional chulhas with clean-energy burners in 50 homes, improving health, saving time, and reducing deforestation. This intervention created tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits in remote communities.

Background

In the village of Sainj in Himachal pardesh, over 90% of households used firewood for cooking. Women and children spent nearly 3 hours daily collecting wood. Indoor air pollution from smoke contributed to respiratory illnesses.

Problem Statement

The community faced multiple challenges: deforestation, declining women's health, and school dropouts among girls due to time spent gathering fuel.

Solution Provided

We partnered with a local NGO to deploy 50 household biogas units (2-cubic-meter capacity). Each unit processed cow dung and food scraps, producing enough gas for two meals/day.

• Installation Time: 7 days per unit

• Training: Basic user guide and maintenance support

• Incentives: 30% government subsidy under rural energy scheme

Results & Impact

The biogas units led to a 70% reduction in firewood use, with visible improvements in health and education outcomes.

Conclusion

Clean energy at the household level doesn't just improve cooking—it transforms lives. The project created a blueprint for health-focused rural biogas deployment in the Himalayan region.