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Research article2024Peer reviewed

Gasifier use for cooking and biochar production by smallholder farmers in Rwanda

Uwingabire, S.; Chamshama, S. A. O.; Nyberg, G.; Nduwamungu, J.

Abstract

Rwanda's rural households primarily use biomass fuel, leading to fuel waste and air quality related issues. The study compared two-top-up lift draft (TLUD) gasifier types (Gastov and Karundura) with a three-stone fire (TSF) cookstove in Bugesera and Huye Districts, Rwanda, using standardized cooking tests (SCT) and a qualitative survey. Key indicators included cooking time, fuel usage and biochar yield while the survey collected information about fuel availability, frequency of use, gasifier design, benefits and challenges. The study utilised descriptive statistics and ANOVA for analysis. The study revealed that the TSF cooked a standardised meal faster than the gasifier did, but the gasifiers reduced fuelwood consumption by 25-50% and produced biochar. The survey responses revealed low fuelwood availability, with fuel savings, temperature control, reduced need for constant supervision, biochar production, and reduced time needed to gather fuelwood, more hygienic and attractive appearance cooking have been revealed. Most household cooks reported that the gasifier stoves produced less smoke and were safer for women and children's health. The biochar produced by the TLUD gasifiers was perceived as positive as it combines biochar production and bioenergy, reduces off-farm biomass gathering, improves energy security and produces sufficient biochar to improve soil productivity.

Keywords

TLUD; three-stone fire cookstove; fuel saving; cooking time; smallholder farmer; Rwanda

Published in

Biofuels
2024, Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Energy Systems

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2024.2381164

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/131571