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Commercialisation of Improved Biomass Fuels and Cooking Devices in India and its Scale UP


Table of Contents

[top] [end]Short project summary

The project aims at disseminating improved biomass fuels and cooking devices through rural micro-enterprises in Maharashtra. The existing technologies will be tested, and adapted if necessary, to suit the local conditions. Rural artisans will be trained to manufacture and market the products. Promotion campaigns will be organised in each region. The project will be carried out with the help of grassroots level development-oriented organisations (NGOs) and self help groups (SHGs) of rural people.

As a part of this larger project a smaller project was funded by Shell Foundation UK, to study the impact of these improved cooking devices on the indoor air quality of the rural homes and the health of the beneficiaries.The project duration was 2 years and was completed in 2006.The details of these project and the outcome of the study with reference to indoor air quality are available here

[top] [end]Project statistics



[top] [end]Project location

Maharashtra State, India

[top] [end]Project partners

This project is being implemented by ARTI, India, in co-operation with the following organisations:

[top] [end]Nashik region

  1. Maharashtra Institute Of Technology Transfer For Rural Areas (MITTRA), Address: BIAF MITTRA BHAVAN, Opp. Niwas Homes, Behind Bodhale Nagar, Off Nashik - Pune Highway, Nashik -422 011.
  2. Disha Foundation, Address : 11, Kishorchandra Apartments, Ahirrao Photo Corner, Canada Corner, Nashik - 422 005

[top] [end]Vidarbha region

  1. Community Polytechnic, Pipri - Wardha , Address: Community Polytechnic, Pipri - Wardha -442 001.
  2. Kiran Gramin Vikas Sanstha, Address : C/o Gulabrao Deshmukh, Dabki road, Vankhade nagar, Akola 444 002.

[top] [end]Marathawada region

  1. Gramin Shramik Pratishtan, Address: A/p Budhoda Tal. Ausa, District Latur Pin- 413 520
  2. Swapna Bhumi Sanstha, Address: Karwadi , Tal. Palam, Dist. Parbhani

[top] [end]Western maharashtra region

  1. Sahyadri Tantraseva & Audyogic co. op. society Ltd., Address : Algudevadi , Phaltan Baramati Road, Near Ganesh nagar, Phaltan,
  1. Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal, Address: Niyojan nagar, Jamkhed Road, P.O. Box No. 9, Karmala, Dist. Solapur.413 203

[top] [end]Konkan region

  1. Rural Communes, Address: at Narangi, Post .Donvat ,Tal. Khalapur, Pen - Khopoli Road, Dist. Raigad 410 203
  2. Ratnagiri Zilha Khadi Sangh, Address: Gopuri Ashram, Kankawali, Dist. Sindhudurg 416 602.

[top] [end]Project goals (summary)

[top] [end]Overall goals

  1. To identify domestic cooking technologies, suitable for India, for using biomass as domestic fuel in efficient and clean manner, with no or minimal negative health impact.
  2. To develop a workable model for commercialising the above technologies through rural micro-enterprises.
  3. To establish a support structure to sustain and expand the commercialisation of biomass energy systems.
  1. To identify existing technologies for clean and efficient use of biomass fuels in households and clean and efficient conversion of biomass into improved fuels for domestic use.
  2. To modify and standardise the devices and processes, if required, to suit the local conditions and to satisfy the needs of the local people.
  3. To disseminate the devices and processes by commercialisation through rural micro-enterprises.
  4. To collect data relevant to assessing the positive health impacts of the use of improved biomass fuels and cooking devices in rural households.
  5. To ensure long-term sustainability of the biomass energy micro-enterprises.

[top] [end]Duration and start date

Duration: 3 years, Start Date: January 1, 2003

[top] [end]Contact details

Dr. Priyadarshini Karve, Projedct Co-ordinator
E-mail: pkarve@...
Telephone: 91 20 25442217/25423258
Fax: 91 20 24390348

[top] [end]Project background

India produces annually about 600 million tonnes of agrowaste. Although it is more than sufficient to satisfy the cooking energy requirement of the entire country, the low-density biomass is a highly inferior fuel. Rural poor, not having access to better fuels, use it in inefficient cooking devices and in poorly ventilated houses, leading to harmful levels of indoor air pollution, and increasing health risk to themselves.

Technologies exist for converting agrowaste into superior fuels like charcoal, biogas, etc. Improved cookstoves using traditional biofuels in cleaner and more efficient ways are also known. During 1984-2002, the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Government of India, implemented the National Programme on Improved Chulha (NPIC), to introduce improved cookstoves into rural households. Overall, this activity failed to make a significant impact. However, in the 1990's, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI), the Technical Backup support Unit (TBU) of NPIC in Maharashtra and Goa states, introduced commercialisation of improved cookstoves through rural micro-enterprises. Today, about 50 rural enterprises, based on improved cookstoves, report an average annual turnover of Rs.150-200 thousand each. More importantly, they have created a culture of using improved cookstoves, in pockets of the two states.

On this background, the project proposes to create at least 100 rural micro-enterprises dealing in improved biomass fuels and cooking devices, and at least 100,000 households routinely using these fuels and devices, and enjoying the benefits of improved indoor air quality.

[top] [end]Project approach and activities

The Maharashtra State has been divided into five socio-economic regions. Two local NGOs in each region are assisting in the commercialisation process. ARTI bears overall responsibility of the project. The project is being carried out through the following phasewise activities:
  1. Market Testing Phase: Volunteer households from all over the state use and give feedback on the selected improved cooking devices and fuels. A regionwise shortlist of marketable devices is prepared based on the users' feedback, and indoor air quality and on-field performance assessment carried out by ARTI.
  2. Commercialisation Phase: Rural artisans and members of rural SHGs are trained in the technologies of mass producing the improved fuels and cooking devices, and in marketing the products. Financial mechanisms are created/suggested to financial institutions for assisting the new businesses. Promotion campaigns are carried out in all the five regions to promote use of the devices and fuels.
  3. Monitoring Phase: All assistance provided to the new rural microeneterprises. The successes and failures of various financing mechanisms and marketing strategies are closely monitored and documented. Project impact assessment is carried out by independent teams.

[top] [end]Deliverables and benefits

  • A self-sustained entrepreneurial network of at least 100 rural microenterprises for delivery of improved biomass fuels and cooking devices will be established in Maharashtra state.
  • Using improved biomass fuels and cooking devices will become a common practice in at least 100,000 rural households in Maharashtra state.
  • Sustained use of improved biomass fuels and cooking devices by a significant number of rural households will lead to better indoor air quality in the houses, and therefore improved health of the inhabitants, particularly women and children.
  • A workable model for identifying and commercialising biomass energy technologies will be demonstrated.

[top] [end]Project Status



Teh Pilot project was completed successfully and Shell Foundation has provided funds for scaling up this project . The details of the Scale up activities are available here

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Page created: 04 December 2003; Last edited: 02 June 2007; Version: 2
Knowledge Bank text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Pagename: CookstoveCommercialisationInMaharashtraIndia @HEDON: GKAA