The Status of Improved Coolcstove Programs in Nepal

by Ganesh Ram Shrestha, Hari G. Gorkhali and Kirk R. Smith Country Studies No. 4 10 July 1991

Risk and Development Program Environment and Policy Institute East-West Center 1777 East-West Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96848 USA

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THE STATUS OF IMPROVED COOKSTOVE PROGRAMS I N NEPALI Ganesh Ram Shrestha and H a r i G . G o r k h a l i (Centre f o r R u r a l Technology, P. O . B o x 3 6 2 8 , Kathmandu) with t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f Kirk R . S m i t h (East-West C e n t e r, H o n o l u l u , H a w a i i 96848) June 1991 I n 1 9 8 7 , D r . Ti m o t h y Wood o f Wr i g h t S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y, w o r k i n g w i t h the U . S . NGO, Vo l u n t e e r s i n Te c h n i c a l A s s i s t a n c e , completed a n assessment o f improved cookstove programs ( I C P s ) i n N e p a l f o r t h e U . S . Agency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development. T h i s assessment i s s t i l l v a l i d i n most r e s p e c t s . T h u s , o u r r e p o r t focuses p r i n c i p a l l y on t h e s t a t u s o f ICPs a s o f e a r l y 1 9 9 1 , w i t h o n l y b r i e f mention o f t h e background discussed more t h o r o u g h l y i n t h e Wood assessment. A t t h e e n d , w e examine t h e e x t e n t t o which t h e recommendations o f t h e Wood assessment seem s t i l l t o b e a p p r o p r i a t e .

A. Background Improved cookstoves programs were f i r s t begun i n Nepal d u r i n g t h e e a r l y 1950s u s i n g I n d i a n models, t h e Hyderabad and Magan c h u l a s . T h e Agri-Engineering Workshop u n d e r t h e Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e developed a mould w i t h Which inexperienced and u n s k i l l e d p e o p l e c o u l d make improved s t o v e s . T h i s approach was extended a s p a r t o f t h e v i l l a g e development s e r v i c e s o f t h e "Tribhuvan Gram Bikash Development," Which ended i n t h e e a r l y 1960s. A l s o d u r i n g t h e 1 9 6 0 s , M r . J a g a t Narayan Shrestha conducted p i o n e e r i n g i n d i v i d u a l w o r k . E f f o r t s continued i n t h e mid 1970s b y t h e Women's Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e in d i s s e m i n a t i n g t h e Lorena S t o v e f r o m Guatemala, t h e U . S . Peace Corps, which t r a i n e d a f e w v o l u n t e e r s i n improved s t o v e c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d

1 Global Review and E v a l u a t i o n o f Improved Cookstove Programs ( 1 9 9 0 - 9 1 ) . T h i s r

e n e r g e t i c i n d i v i d u a l e f f o r t s b y M r. R a j d a s S h r e s t h a . T h e M r i g e n d r a M e d i c a l T r u s t s t a r t e d r e s e a r c h o n h e a l t h e f f e c t s o f smoke i n t h i s p e r i o d w i t h t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n o f H . R . Va i d a a n d t h e Research C e n t e r f o r A p p l i e d S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y (RECAST) a t T r i b h u v a n U n i v e r s i t y . These e f f o r t s f a d e d o u t , m a i n l y because o f l a c k o f f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t .

By 1 9 7 9 , h o w e v e r, e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g wood demands a n d s e r i o u s s h o r t a g e s o f f u e l w o o d combined w i t h t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f Nepalese f o r e s t resources t o a r o u s e t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s (HMG's) a t t e n t i o n a s w e l l a s t h e i n t e r e s t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l agencies i n v o l v e d i n n a t u r a l resources development. T h e N a t i o n a l P l a n n i n g Commission N e p a l f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e included fueluood problems i n i t s S i x t h p l a n (1981-85), under which s o l u t i o n s t o t h e fuelwood problem were t o b e developed. T h e Seventh Plan ( 1 9 8 6 - 9 0 ) a c t u a l l y s p e c i f i e d a t a r g e t o f 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 I C s , o f Which l e s s than 25% was a c h i e v e d . ( T h e E i g h t h P l a n h a s n o t b e e n r e l e a s e d a s y e t ) . During most o f t h e 1980s, t h e m a j o r i t y o f I C ( i m p r o v e d cookstove) a c t i v i t i e s were undertaken by two organizations:

The R e s e a r c h C e n t e r f o r A u l i e d S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y o f Tr i b h u v a n U n i v e r s i t y (RECAST) i n i t i a t e d a p r o g r a m i n 1979 t o d e s i g n , d e v e l o p , a n d f i e l d t e s t I C s . P i l o t - s c a l e demonstration and d i s s e m i n a t i o n were a l s o undertaken. I t s e f f o r t s were e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e s i g n i n g o f a c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e HMG/UNDP/FAO a n d t h e Community F o r e s t r y Development Program (CFDP) i n September 1 9 8 1 .

The Community F o r e s t r y Deve122ment P r o g r a m iCFDP1 o p e r a t e d i n 3 7 o u t o f 7 5 d i s t r i c t s i n N e p a l d u r i n g i t s f i r s t p h a s e ( 1 9 8 1 - 8 8 ) a n d was t h e f i r s t f o r e s t r y p r o j e c t i n i t i a t e d i n N e p a l w i t h a s p e c i f i c commitment t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f I C s . C F D P p e r f o r m e d i t s own m o n i t o r i n g a n d e v a l u a t i o n a n d r e l i e d o n RECAST f o r t e c h n i c a l b a c k u p . During t h e f i r s t p h a s e , n e a r l y 2 5 , 0 0 0 I C s w e r e i n s t a l l e d . I t was decided t h a t t h e second phase o f CFDP ( 1 9 9 0 - 9 6 ) w o u l d n o t i n c l u d e I C s because t h e s e w e r e b e t t e r d i s s e m i n a t e d t h r o u g h t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r a n d had t o o l a r g e a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o v e r h e a d . T h e r e c e n t f u e l s h o r t a g e s i n Nepal, h o w e v e r, h a v e r e k i n d l e d some i n t e r e s t i n I C P s w i t h i n t h e M i n i s t r y o f F o r e s t r y, b u t n o p l a n s have y e t been developed.

A r e c e n t r e v i e w o f t h e f i r s t phase o f CFDP b y I n t e g r a t e d Development Systems, C o . ( I D S , 1 9 9 0 ) h a d g e n e r a l l y n e g a t i v e f i n d i n g s about t h e s t o v e component. T h e s e were blamed o n p o o r d e s i g n , h i g h maintenance, l o n g e r cooking t i m e s , b r e a k a g e , a n d " i n s u f f i c i e n t s t o v e promotion and e x t e n s i o n . " O f those r e c e i v i n g I C s , o n l y 47% w e r e found to b e p r e s e n t u s e r s , and o n l y 20% o f t h e s e use i t e x c l u s i v e l y. O v e r a l l f u e l savings p e r I C was f o u n d t o b e o n l y 11%. T h e m a j o r i t y considered the I C t o b e more convenient and l e s s smoky, b u t o n l y h a l f found i t t o be b e t t e r o v e r a l l t h a n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s t o v e . I n s u f f i c i e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n b y l o c a l u s e r s was s i t e d a s a p r i n c i p a l r e a s o n f o r I C P poor performance.

Using a shadow wage o f NRS 1 6 . 8 p e r man-day o f g a t h e r i n g t i m e , I D S determined t h e CFDP I C P t o have a i n t e r n a l r a t e o f r e t u r n ( I R R ) o f 10%, compared t o o v e r 20% f o r t h e p u b l i c and p r i v a t e p l a n t a t i o n p a r t s o f t h e program. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e I C P I R R was s e n s i t i v e t o assumptions, such t h a t , f o r example, j u s t a 20% i n c r e a s e i n c o s t s would e l i m i n a t e a l l benefits.

In t h e 1 9 8 0 s , a s shown i n Ta b l e 1 , t h e r e were a l s o a number o f smaller I C P s , sponsored and r u n b y a r a n g e o f n a t i o n a l , b i l a t e r a l , a n d non-government a g e n c i e s .

B. S t a t u s o f I t Tr o v e d Cookstoves and I n s t i t u t i o n a l E f f o r t s ;

At p r e s e n t , d e t a i l e d and r e l i a b l e d a t a a b o u t many o f t h e ICPs a r e not a v a i l a b l e s i n c e many o f t h e projects/programs a r e n o l o n g e r operating s t o v e promotion a c t i v i t i e s . A s shown i n Ta b l e 1 , i t seems, t h a t b y 1 9 9 1 , somewhat l e s s t h a n 4 0 , 0 0 0 I C s had been i n s t a l l e d throughout t h e n a t i o n through t h e e f f o r t s o f d i f f e r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d p r o j e c t s (<2% o f t o t a l households). F i g u r e 1 i s a map showing t h e main areas i n Which ICPs o p e r a t e d . M o s t o f t h e s t o v e s were e i t h e r t h e Ceramic I n s e r t S t o v e w i t h Ceramic Chimney developed b y RECAST o r t h e New (modified) Kagan C h u l a , w h i c h a l s o has ceramic p a r t s . T h e e v o l u t i o n o f IC d e s i g n s i s shown i n F i g u r e 2 .

The number o f I C s c u r r e n t l y i n u s e i s n o t e x a c t l y known. T h e estimates g i v e n i n t h e t a b l e r e f e r t o e s t i m a t e d usage a t t h e end o f each program. I t was e s t i m a t e d b y Wood ( 1 9 8 7 ) , f o r example, t h a t more t h a n 55 p e r c e n t o f t h e s t o v e s i n s t a l l e d d u r i n g t h e 1980s w e r e n o l o n g e r i n use. T h o s e remaining were r e p o r t e d t o b e g r a d u a l l y f a l l i n g i n t o d i s u s e , through l a c k o f f l u e maintenance, a c c i d e n t a l i n t e r n a l breakage, a n d normal w e a r and t e a r . A number o f reasons h a v e been i d e n t i f i e d t h a t limited widescale dissemination:

- t h e p o t h o l e s w e r e t o o s m a l l t o accommodate t h e l a r g e p o t s used i n many households;

- i n many c a s e s , t h e b a f f l e was t o o s m a l l t o a c h i e v e good h e a t t r a n s f e r ;

- t h e i n s e r t s w e r e t o o heavy ( 1 8 k g p e r u n i t ) a n d t o o f r a g i l e f o r massive d i s s e m i n a t i o n i n N e p a l . T h e r e i s c o n s i d e r a b l e breakage, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e f l a n g e o f t h e chimney s e c t i o n d u r i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n from p r o d u c t i o n c e n t r e s t o t h e p l a c e o f u s e .

- t h e s e i n s e r t s , i n most c a s e s , c o u l d n o t b e produced l o c a l l y ;

- s k i l l e d t e c h n i c i a n s ( p o t t e r s ) w e r e needed t o produce and i n s t a l l ;

- t h e I C s c o u l d n o t p r o v i d e b o t h space h e a t i n g and c o o k i n g , e s p e c i a l l y f o r households i n t h e h i g h e r h i l l s and mountains;

- t h e y could n o t handle t h e e n t i r e range o f f u e l types t h a t people burn ( a g r i c u l t u r a l biomass and i n d u s t r i a l r e s i d u e s , f o r example);

- i t was d i f f i c u l t t o r e p l a c e broken p a r t s o f t h e s t o v e s ; a n d

- most I C P s l a c k e d e n e r g e t i c d i s s e m i n a t i o n s t r a t e g i e s i n v o l v i n g t h e l o c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s and women u s e r s .

See Wood ( 1 9 8 7 ) f o r f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e s e and o t h e r problems.

C. O n g o i n g E f f o r t s i n 1221 Table 2 shows t h o s e N e p a l i o r g a n i z a t i o n s now a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n IC R&D and promotional e f f o r t s . A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e no L a r g e - s c a l e dissemination e f f o r t s s t i l l i n o p e r a t i o n , t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l s m a l l energetic e f f o r t s and o t h e r s planned:

The S m a l l Farmer Develo2ment Program iSFDP2 of t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Development Bank o f Nepal (ADEN) was s t a r t e d i n 1 9 7 5 / 7 6 w i t h support from U P / F A O f o r 2 p i l o t p r o j e c t s . B y J u l y 1 9 9 0 , t h e r e were 4 5 9 f i e l d o f f i c e s c o v e r i n g 1 4 , 5 3 0 groups i n 7 5 d i s t r i c t s . T o h e l p promote a range o f improved t e c h n o l o g i e s , i n c l u d i n g I C s , t h e SFDP emphasizes m o b i l i z a t i o n o f l o c a l u s e r groups.

Production C r e d i t f o r R u r a l Women iPCRW1 i s a program o f t h e Women Development D i v i s i o n (WDD) o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f L o c a l Development (MLD). I t was s t a r t e d 1 9 8 2 w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e o f a l l e v i a t i n g p o v e r t y and improving t h e s o c i a l w e l f a r e o f r u r a l women. T h e program has been implemented i n 4 2 d i s t r i c t s and a n e s t i m a t e d 1 6 4 , 0 0 0 women have b e n e f i t e d . I C s have been a component o f t h e s e e f f o r t s .

The C e n t r e f o r R u r a l Te c h n o l o g I A C R T I was e s t a b l i s h e d i n Kathmandu (1989) a s a p r i v a t e - s e c t o r o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h aims t o a s s i s t p e o p l e and agencies i n t h e development, p r o m o t i o n , a n d d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e technologies s u i t e d t o r u r a l c o n d i t i o n s . C u r r e n t l y , i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h the PCRW and SFDP, CRT has been i n v o l v e d i n a UNICEF-assisted p r o j e c t "Children, Environment and S u s t a i n a b l e Development i n N e p a l " . O n e o f the a c t i v i t i e s i s t o choose and promote I C s i n 3 0 s e l e c t e d PCRW/SFDP p r o j e c t a r e a s t o reduce fuelwood demand and t o improve household sanitation.

R e a l i z i n g t h e c o n s t r a i n t s t o I C development i n r u r a l a r e a s o f Nepal, CRT has promoted a new t y p e o f s t o v e developed b y RECAST. T h i s "Tamang" I C i s a high-mass c l a y s t o v e s i m i l a r t o t h e New Hagan I C , b u t with a n i m p o r t a n t a d d i t i o n . A m e t a l t r i p o d i n s e r t i s used t o g i v e strength such t h a t l a r g e p o t s and v i g o r o u s s t i r r i n g can b e accommodated.

I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e ceramic i n s e r t , however, t h e m e t a l t r i p o d i n s e r t i s f a m i l i a r , c h e a p , l i g h t ( 3 k g ) , u n b r e a k a b l e , a n d c a n b e made i n many local areas.

By A p r i l 1 9 9 1 , o v e r 500 such s t o v e s had been i n s t a l l e d b y t r a i n e d l o c a l t e c h n i c i a n s w i t h t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e f r o m CRT and ADEN i n d i f f e r e n t SFDP/PCRW a r e a s . B a s e d o n f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s , t h e Tamang has gained p o p u l a r i t y among r u r a l housewives a s compared t o e a r l i e r i n s e r t e d p r e f a b r i c a t e d ceramic s t o v e m a i n l y because o f t h e f o l l o w i n g reasons:

- t h e complete s t o v e c a n b e made b y s k i l l e d l o c a l p e o p l e w i t h l o c a l m a t e r i a l s such a s , r o c k , b r i c k , mud, b r a n , a n d i r o n , w h i c h i s a l r e a d y brought i n f o r o t h e r purposes;

- i t c a n b e made i n d i f f e r e n t s i z e s a s p e r f a m i l y requirements and installed i n t h e desired location;

- i t s mud b r i c k chimney c a n b e made l o c a l l y ;

- i t s i r o n t r i p o d i s f i x e d i n t h e ground which makes t h e s t o v e s t r o n g and d u r a b l e ; a n d

- B a s e d o n f i e l d i n t e r v i e w s , 3 0 - 35% o f fuelwood i s saved and k i t c h e n s are l e s s smoky.

About 3 5 l o c a l a r t i s a n s i n c l u d i n g 6 women s t o v e promoters w e r e trained i n 1990 t o construct t h e I C s a t various p r o j e c t s i t e s . I t is

planned t h a t a n a d d i t i o n a l b a t c h o f 8 0 l o c a l a r t i s a n s ( t e c h n i c i a n s ) w i l l be t r a i n e d t o i n s t a l l 9 5 0 s t o v e s d u r i n g 1 9 9 1 . C R T has emphasized construction b y t h e u s e r and has p u b l i s h e d s i m p l e and p r a c t i c a l t e c h n i c a l g u i d e l i n e s o n improved household cookstoves w i t h mud b r i c k

chimneys f o r t h e use b y t h e p r o j e c t o f f i c i a l s , l o c a l a r t i s a n s , a n d group leaders who a r e i n v o l v e d i n I C promotion and d i s s e m i n a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s i n rural areas.

CRT i s a l s o developing a program t o a s s i s t i n t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f f u e l - e f f i c i e n t i n s t i t u t i o n a l s t o v e s f o r community cooking a s w e l l a s f o r s m a l l - s c a l e i n d u s t r i a l u s e such a s i n t h e e f f i c i e n t use o f fuelwood energy f o r b o i l i n g L o k t a , a r a w m a t e r i a l f o r making hand-made p a p e r i n selected a r e a s o f t h e western d i s t r i c t s . A s p a r t o f i t s i n t e g r a t e d r u r a l development f o c u s , CRT has been performing t h e r o l e o f f a c i l i t a t o r or c a t a l y s t t o s e r v e a s c l e a r i n g h o u s e f o r i n f o r m a t i o n d i s s e m i n a t i o n , f a c i l i t a t e communication/contacts among r e s e a r c h e r s , d e v e l o p e r s , promoters, a n d u s e r s .

United M i s s i o n o f Ne2a1 O M N I has had modest ICPs i n two a r e a s o f the c o u n t r y (Jumla and Andhi K h o l a ) . E x c e p t f o r t h e c o s t o f t r a n s p o r t , the I C s a r e f u l l y s u b s i d i z e d b y UMN. E y e problems a r e common i n t h e s e areas, t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t many young men cannot q u a l i f y f o r p o l i c e o r army s e r v i c e . T h e s e problems a r e o f t e n a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e smoke i n s i d e homes. N e v e r t h e l e s s , UMN has found t h a t I C s a r e g e n e r a l l y n o t h i g h on the l i s t o f p r i o r i t i e s f o r u s e r s . I n a d d i t i o n , i n Jumla, u s e r s w e r e concerned t h a t I C s would n o t p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t l i g h t and h e a t i n t h e i r homes, b u t d i d l i k e t h e r e d u c t i o n i n b u r n r i s k f o r c h i l d r e n . I n t h e f u t u r e , URN p l a n s t o t r y i n t r o d u c i n g I C s t h a t a r e p l a c e d under hoods built i n t o the walls.

Save t h e C h i l d r e n . USA ( S T C ) added a n I C P i n 1 9 8 4 t o i t s i n t e g r a t e d r u r a l development program begun i n 1 9 8 1 , w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f reducing f u e l u s e and smoke l e v e l s . A m o d i f i e d Nada S t o v e (mud body, p o t t e r y f l u e , damper) h a s been promoted. I n 1 9 8 7 , a n e v a l u a t i o n was conducted by RECAST w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s u l t s :

- - B o i l i n g w a t e r t e s t s r e v e a l e d a 22% PHU; - - 65% I C s s t i l l i n u s e ; - - P o t h o l e s w e r e t o o s m a l l f o r l o c a l needs; - - Users missed t h e l i g h t and h e a t g i v e n o f f b y t r a d i t i o n a l s t o v e s ;

- - F l u e i n many homes was n o t c l e a n e d r e g u l a r l y ; a n d - - Users c l a i m e d some f u e l s a v i n g s .

Another RECAST e v a l u a t i o n i s planned f o r 1991 f o r t h e 1000 I C s I n s t a l l e d in 1 9 9 0 .

Households c o n t r i b u t e 1 5 Rs o f t h e 2 0 Rs l a b o r c h a r g e , w i t h t h e remainder ( 5 R s ) a n d m a t e r i a l s ( 7 0 R s ) donated b y STC. T h e I C P depend on Non-formal A d u l t Education Centres s e t u p i n each Panchayat. O n e f a c i l i t a t o r i s t r a i n e d i n e a c h A d u l t Ed c l a s s , who t h e n t r a i n s t h o s e i n class who a r e i n t e r e s t e d . T h e nomadic groups o f p o t t e r s a r e encouraged to make and s e l l f l u e p a r t s .

RECAST now has f o u r s t a f f working o n I C s and has developed a t o t a l of 8 I C s (mud, m e t a l , b r i c k , a n d 5 c e r a m i c - i n s e r t I C s ) . L i k e t h e o t h e r groups i n N e p a l , however, RECAST i s now p r i n c i p a l l y focused o n t h e m e t a l - t r i p o d r a t h e r t h a n c e r a m i c - i n s e r t I C s . I n a p r o j e c t funded b y t h e FAO R e g i o n a l Energy Program, Bangkok, RECAST i s embarking o n a p i l o t study t o promote k i t c h e n improvement. T h i s w i l l i n c l u d e I C s , b u t a l s o l a t r i n e s and composting, a s w e l l a s improved k i t c h e n v e n t i l a t i o n , l i g h t i n g , a n d working a r e a s . R E C A S T i s a l s o moving i n t o i n s t i t u t i o n a l ICs f o r t e a shops and a n improved t e a d r y i n g s t o v e t h a t can b e used f o r other purposes d u r i n g t h e seasons when t e a h a r v e s t i n g i s n o t o c c u r r i n g .

RECAST has a l s o t a k e n up s e v e r a l I C P e v a l u a t i o n s i n r e c e n t y e a r s , including t h o s e f o r t h e CFDP and Save t h e C h i l d r e n a s w e l l a s one f o r the Te r a i F o r e s t r y P r o j e c t i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h c o n s u l t a t i o n f o r I C P improvement ( S u l p y a l u1 9 t9 ) e . new s p e c i f i c a t i o n s saved more t h a t o n e - t h i r d f u e l compared b ilt o0 th C o o k i n to g t h e t r a d i t i o n a l stoves i n t h e a r e a . t e s t s Nepal-Australia Forestry P r o j e c t s t a r t e d disseminating i n d i prefa c ab r i cta t e d e c l a y s t o v e s i n 1 9 8 3 . T h e y found t h a t t h e s e were n o t d suited t o h i l l r e g i o n s because o f t h e s t r a i n experienced b y t h e t y p e o f t h cooking and a t because o f breakage d u r i n g t r a n s p o r t . T h e s e were more t h i n t h e T e r a i , however. N o w f o c u s i n g o n t r a i n i n g a f e w dozen successful o s e I C s

l o c a l women each y e a r t o b u i l d mud s t o v e s . R e c e n t s u r v e y found 100% o f mud s t o v e s s t i l l i n use a f t e r 6 months. Women complain about chimney cleaning b u t a p p r e c i a t e l o w e r h e a t and e y e i r r i t a t i o n .

USAID has i n i t i a t e d a new i n t e g r a t e d f o r e s t r y program t h a t w i l l have a n i m p o r t a n t I C component. O r i g i n a l l y c a l l i n g f o r a r a t h e r l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e t o t a l e f f o r t , t h e s t o v e component has now been s c a l e d back t o a l e v e l commensurate w i t h a six-month e f f o r t b y a n e x p a t r i a t e e x p e r t , T i m Jones, f r o m ITDG i n t h e UK, who a r r i v e d i n A p r i l 1 9 9 1 . H i s main r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s t o a c t a s a c a t a l y s t t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r t h e d i s p a r a t e groups w i t h i n t h e Kathmandu b i l a t e r a l , NGO, a n d donor communities who have i n t e r e s t s i n I C s . I t i s hoped t h a t i n t h i s way a

more coordinated and v i g o r o u s I C P c a n b e developed f o r t h e c o u n t r y.

The Mrigendra M e d i c a l Tr u s t IMMT1 has been i n t r o d u c i n g Tamang I C s in t h e Pharping r e g i o n o f Kathmandu V a l l e y. I n a d d i t i o n t o incorporating I C s i n t o t h e i r g e n e r a l e f f o r t s a t community improvement, MMT has been s t u d y i n g t h e e f f e c t s o f I C s o n smoke exposures among women. For example, i n a f o l l o w - u p t o a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l s t u d y done o f t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r I C s t o reduce smoke exposures t o cooks (Mountain Research and Develo2ment (MED), N o v. 1 9 8 6 , p . 2 9 3 ) , MMT r e c e n t l y published t h e i r l o n g i t u d i n a l s t u d y o f exposures b e f o r e and a f t e r i n t r o d u c t i o n o f I C s (MRD, N o v. 1 9 9 0 , p . 3 1 3 ) . B o t h s t u d i e s showed t h a t I C s seem t o reduce smoke exposures t o o n e - t h i r d o f t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l l e v e l s .

MMT r e l i e s h e a v i l y on u s e r s ' groups and v i l l a g e - l e v e l p a r t i c i p a t i o n in i t s programs. M M T has a l s o conducted and p u b l i s h e d medical r e s e a r c h on t h e impacts o f s t o v e smoke o n c h r o n i c b r o n c h i t i s i n a d u l t s and a c u t e r e s p i r a t o r y i n f e c t i o n s i n c h i l d r e n , b o t h c r i t i c a l h e a l t h problems i n Nepal. T h e i r work h a s i n d i c a t e d t h a t s u b s t a n t i a l h e a l t h improvements can b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r e d u c t i o n s i n smoke exposures under r u r a l N e p a l i conditions. T h e y p l a n f u r t h e r , more d e t a i l e d , s t u d i e s o f t h i s k i n d .

10

D. C u r r e n t S t a t u s o f t h e Wood Recommendations

I n 1 9 8 7 , Ti m o t h y Wood made a number o f recommendations. T o t h e extent t h a t t h e r e i s e v i d e n c e , i t may b e u s e f u l t o examine Whether t h e y seem v a l i d f o r t h e 1 9 9 0 s . L i t t l e a d d i t i o n a l work seems t o have

Cookstove designs a r e inadequate:

been done t o develop and t e s t new designs. RECAST has n o t been a b l e t o make a d d i t i o n a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s and p r i v a t e - s e c t o r NGOs have n o t y e t been able t o t a k e o n t h i s r o l e .

Testing has been i n s u f f i c i e n t : N o s y s t e m a t i c t e s t procedures a r e y e t i n use.

High s u b s i d i e s a r e s e l f - d e f e a t i n g : T h e r e i s some movement away f r o m t o t a l s u b s i d i e s b u t most programs s t i l l s u b s i d i z e I C s t o some e x t e n t .

Need f o r b e t t e r e x t e n s i o n s e r v i c e s : T h e r e i s good evidence t h a t each o f the ICPs now o p e r a t i n g h a s q u i t e s o p h i s t i c a t e d e x t e n s i o n e f f o r t s compared t o t h e p a s t . T h e r e i s a c u t e s e n s i t i v i t y o f t h e need t o i n v o l v e users and p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t r e s o u r c e s f o r t r a i n i n g and p a r t i c i p a t i o n .

National t a r g e t s h a v e been u n r e a l i s t i c and c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e : T h e nation i s now a t t h e o t h e r e x t r e m e , i . e . , t h e r e a r e n o t a r g e t s a t a l l , indeed, n o I C s a t a l l i n p r e s e n t HMG programs, s u c h a s Community F o r e s t r y. T h e r e a r e e a r l y i n d i c a t i o n s o f growing i n t e r e s t a g a i n , however.

Take advantgge o f e x i s t i n g _ s t o v e - b u i l d i n g

t r a d i t i o n s : T o some e x t e n t ,

the f o c u s o n t h e Tamang s t o v e ( s e e below) i s movement i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n .

Develop space h e a t i n g stoves: T h e s m a l l UMN program t o t r y hoods seems to b e t h e o n l y movement i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n .

Reconsider t h e New Mggan Chula: N o o n e seems t o b e promoting t h i s s t o v e at present.

1 1

Improve t h e I n s e r t Stove: B e c a u s e o f t h e bad e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e ceramic i n s e r t s , p r e s e n t i n t e r e s t i s focused o n t h e Tamang. Proceed c a u t i o u s l y w i t h t h e Tamang ( u n t i l fuelwood s a v i n g s i s p r o v e n : Most programs a r e now promoting t h i s s t o v e because o f t h e advantages l i s t e d i n section C , above. I t i s n o t c l e a r , however, w h e t h e r

s u f f i c i e n t i n - f i e l d t e s t i n g and surveys h a v e been done t o v e r i f y s i g n i f i c a n t f u e l s a v i n g s . T h i s c l e a r l y remains a p r i o r i t y .

Develgp i n s t i t u t i o n a l I C s : B e i n g undertaken b y RECAST and CRT.

Conduct s u r v e y o f t r a d i t i o n a l s t o v e s : A p p a r e n t l y n o t y e t p l a n n e d . E s t a b l i s h o r s t r e n g t h e n programs o f I C development and t e s t i n g : T h i s has n o t been done. I n d e e d , i f a n y t h i n g , s u p p o r t f o r t h e I C e f f o r t s o f RECAST has decayed f u r t h e r s i n c e 1 9 8 7 a n d n o o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n has taken up t h e t a s k .

E s t a b l i s h a n advisory_program t o s e r v e a l l cookstove programs: T h e l e v e l o f communication among programs s t i l l needs improvement. A n advisory committee w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m t h e major i n t e r e s t e d groups could a s s i s t , a s w e l l a s h e l p i n g l i n k some o f t h e government agencies and NGOs w i t h complementary i n t e r e s t s and s k i l l s .

Espand t h e l e a d e r s h i p

role o f t h e CFDP: A s discussed above, CFDP i s a l s o no l o n g e r

considers i t s e l f no l o n g e r t o b e i n v o l v e d i n I C s . I t

c l e a r t h a t t h i s recommendation i s v a l i d , s i n c e r e c e n t t h i n k i n g has emphasized t h e importance o f f o c u s i n g o n non-government o r g a n i z a t i o n s . E. Observations and Conclusions

The b r i g h t p a r t o f t h i s r e c o r d i s t h e s u b s t a n t i a l advancement i n the a r t and s c i e n c e o f e x t e n s i o n t h a t i s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e p r e s e n t dissemination e f f o r t s o f CRT/SFDP/UNICEF, UMN, STC, and MMT. U s e r s ' p r i o r i t i e s a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n a r e w e l l i n t e g r a t e d i n each o f t h e s e

12

p r o j e c t s . F r o m t h i s s t a n d p o i n t , N e p a l c a n b e proud o f i t s progress i n one o f t h e most c r i t i c a l components o f s u c c e s s f u l I C P s .

I t i s s t r i k i n g , however, how l i t t l e t h i s s o p h i s t i c a t i o n i n t h e human s i d e o f t h e I C P e q u a t i o n has been matched b y s o p h i s t i c a t i o n o n t h e t e c h n i c a l s i d e . D e s i g n and t e s t i n g e f f o r t s remain r e l a t i v e l y unsophisticated a n d , i n d e e d , seem t o have a c t u a l l y regressed i n r e c e n t years. W h a t N e p a l seems t o need a r e t e c h n i c a l backup u n i t s o f s u f f i c i e n t c a l i b e r t o match i t s h i g h - q u a l i t y " s o c i a l backup u n i t s . "

I d e n t i f y i n g p e o p l e and o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v i n g t h e R&D s k i l l s and i n t e r e s t s and g i v i n g them due r e c o g n i t i o n and s u p p o r t w i l l b e a n important p a r t o f a c h i e v i n g g r e a t e r p e n e t r a t i o n o f I C s i n N e p a l . S u c h e f f o r t s , o f c o u r s e , m u s t b e c l o s e l y i n t e g r a t e d w i t h o t h e r development a c t i v i t i e s , s u c h a s a g r o f o r e s t r y, income g e n e r a t i o n , women's programs, and environmental and s a n i t a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a t t h e g r a s s - r o o t s l e v e l .

There a r e many good suggestions i n t h e Wood assessment w i t h r e g a r d the s k i l l s needed b y such t e c h n i c a l backup u n i t s t h a t a r e even more r e l e v a n t t o d a y t h a n i n 1 9 8 7 . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e may b e ways t o t a k e advantage o f t h e advances made i n o t h e r A s i a n c o u n t r i e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s in t e c h n i c a l backup c a p a b i l i t i e s . I n d i a , C h i n a , a n d , t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t , S r i Lanka have developed i n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t might w e l l s e r v e a s models and t r a i n i n g c e n t e r s f o r upgrading N e p a l ' s c a p a b i l i t i e s .

I n t h i s r e s p e c t , i t i s c u r i o u s t o n o t e t h a t w h i l e t h e r e s t o f South Asia seems t o b e moving away f r o m mud I C s and toward ceramic i n s e r t s because o f q u a l i t y c o n t r o l problems w i t h mud, most p e o p l e i n Nepal seem to b e l i e v e t h a t N e p a l should move i n t h e r e v e r s e d i r e c t i o n . W h a t i s happening, h o w e v e r, i s n o t r e a l l y a move away f r o m i n s e r t s , b u t r a t h e r a move toward a n even s t r o n g e r i n s e r t r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m e t a l t r i p o d used i n t h e Tamang I C . A s t h e h i s t o r y o f Chinese ICPs shows, w h a t may e v e n t u a l l y b e needed i n Nepal i 3 even more m e t a l p i e c e s t o b e t t e r f i x I C c r i t i c a l dimensions.

13

One o f t h e i m p o r t a n t Wood recommendations t h a t seems a b o u t t o b e addressed r e l a t e s t o t h e need f o r some s o r t o f means t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r a l l t h e d i f f e r e n t groups and p e o p l e i n N e p a l i n t e r e s t e d i n I C s . A s o f e a r l y 1 9 9 1 , t h e r e were s i g n s t h a t t h i s was b e g i n n i n g t o o c c u r.

A l a s t o b s e r v a t i o n i s t h a t most o f t h e groups i n Nepal promoting ICs c i t e r e d u c t i o n i n smoke exposure a s a major g o a l . T h e y do n o t seem to b e a w a r e , however, o f t h e e x t e n s i v e work undertaken o n t h i s s u b j e c t by one o f t h e i r c o m p a t r i o t s , D r . M . R . Pandey o f t h e MMT. M o r e t h a n a n y other r e s e a r c h i n t h e w o r l d , t h i s work i n d i c a t e s t h e s u b s t a n t i a l h e a l t h b e n e f i t s t h a t c a n a c c r u e through such r e d u c t i o n s i n smoke exposure. Tapping t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s work c o u l d b e a n e f f e c t i v e means t o strengthen t h e J u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r ICPs i n Nepal a n d , i t m i g h t b e hoped, increase t h e f u n d i n g base I n d e e d , p a r t i a l c o s t - b e n e f i t a n a l y s e s u s i n g Dr. P a n d e y ' s p u b l i s h e d d a t a show t h a t t h e p r e s e n t v a l u e o f h e a l t h b e n e f i t s s o l e l y t o cooking women f r o m a working I C may exceed US$50 (Smith & Ramakrishna, E n e r g y Research Monograph # 9 8 , I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development Research C e n t r e , O t t a w a , 1 9 8 6 ) .

In c o n c l u s i o n , we f e e l t h a t government a g e n c i e s , NO0s, t e c h n o l o g y development c e n t e r s , a n d p u b l i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a s w e l l a s donors, s h o u l d continue t o p r e s s f o r development o f t h e t e c h n i c a l c a p a b i l i t i e s needed to develop e f f e c t i v e I C P s , a s w e l l a s f o r c o n t i n u a t i o n o f e f f o r t s t o develop user-based d i s s e m i n a t i o n s t r a t e g i e s .

14

Table 1 E f f o r t s o f v a r i o u s Organizations/Agencies D i r e c t l y I n v o l v e d i n the Promotion and Dissemination o f Improved cookstoves i n Nepal (1981-1990) Organization T o t a l Stoves E s t i m a t e d Y e a r s disseminated S t o v e s i n use 1 0 0 0 0 8 1 8 8

I . C c u m u n i t y Forestry 2 5 0 0 0 Development P r o j e c t iUNDP/FAO/IBRDI 2. B e g n a s , Rupa Ta l 1 Watershed Management Project iCAREI 3. P h e w a Ta l Watershed Project 4. I n t e g r a t e d H i l l 1 Development P r o j e c t LSATAI 5. N e p a l / A u s t r a l i a 3 rojeot 5 0 % Forestry P8 6 3 1 0 0

0 -

2 2 5 8 1 8 5

6. R e s o u r c e Conservation 1 0 0 0 and U t i l i z a t i o n P r o j e c t iUSAI121 7. 4 A p p r o p r i a t e Technology 2 8 0 Units ( U S A I D / L U N )

8. T e r a i Community Forestry Project iEgl

9. T i n a u Watershed 3 5 Management P r o j e c t LSAT 10. C o m m u n i t y Water 1 7 P r o j e c t (UMICEF/SATA) 11. S F D P / A D M U N I C E F 3 8 0 0

0 0

8 M

8 A

8 8

3 3

8 9

7 0

12. S a v e t h e C h i l d r e n 1 5 0 0 - 2 0 0 0

o f 213 8 4 - 9 0

13. J u m l a and Andhi Khola Projects (UMN) 1 7 14. P h a r p i n g (MMT) 2 0

0 0

4 9

0 0

% %

8 8

7 8

9 9

0 0

15. S h a t b h a t e n i P r o j e c t (LWS) s m a l l

16. L a i n c h a u r P r o j e c t (FPAPC) s m a l l

17. L a l i t p u r (MHPP) 18. R e d Cross s

s m

m a

a l

l l

T2tal: 4 0

S o u c r e K : M . .

L o c a o i tn o m I fp o r e v d C P e v t s k o m a g r N n i s l a p e

1-4 ;-i
g::I ,I t..1

Figure 2 : E v o l u t i o n o f I m p r o v e d Cookstove D e s i g n s i n Nepal

1952 Hydrabad Chubo

1978/79 Lorena Stove

1981/82 I n s e r t Stove 1 9 8 1984/85 Modified TERI Stove 1 / 8 2 e t 0r T 1983 Modified I n s e-r t Stove E R I g i o 1989/90 Improved One Pothole Mud Stove 1985/86 Tamang Stove v e

1981/82 Double Wa l l Stove ) 1 4 '

1983 New Nepali Chubo

1983 Mud.n.Brick Stove

1989/90 Improved Two Ring Mud Stove

1989/90 Tamang Stove

source : K.M. S u l p y a , 1991.

1 1 4

Sources f o r Ta b l e 1 : 1. A s s e s s m e n t o f Cookstove P r o g r a m i n Nepal (Wood, 1 9 8 7 ) 2. M a j o r Agro F o r e s t r y A c t i v i t i e s o f NGOs i n Nepal: A Survey (Jeannette & Rayachhetry, 1 9 9 0 ) 3. A g r i c u l t u r a l Development Bank, Review R e p o r t , (ABDN, 1 9 9 0 ) 4. I m p r o v e d Cooking-Stoves i n Nepal ( K . M . S u l p y a , 1 9 9 1 ) 5. I n t e r v i e w s ( F e b r u a r y and March, 1 9 9 1 ) . Abbreviations: ADBN: A g r i c u l t u r a l Bank o f Nepal CARE: ( t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r i t y ) EEC: European Economic Commission FAO: Food and A g r i c u l t u r a l O r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s FPAPC: F a m i l y Planning A s s o c i a t i o n and P a r a s i t e C o n t r o l IBRD: Wo r l d Bank LWS: L u t h e r a n World S e r c i c e MHPP: M i n i s t r y o f Housing and P h y s i c a l P l a n n i n g ( e a r t h q u a k e r e l i e f ) MMT: M r i g e n d r a M e d i c a l Tr u s t SATA: S w i s s B i l a t e r a l A i d Agency SFDP: S m a l l Farmers Development Program URN: U n i t e d Missions o f Nepal UNDP: U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development Program UNICEF: U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n , USAID: U n i t e d S t a t e s Agency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development s F u n d

IMPROVED BIOMASS COOKSTOVE PROGRAMS A GLOBAL REVIEW A Project of the East-West Center, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (World Bank), and the United Nations Development Program :Principal Investigator : :Kirk:F1 S M i t t L : E a s O i Ve s t .. Center

Summary

"An Evaluation of Improved Biomass Cookstove Programs: Prospects for Success or Failure." Available from ESMAP, World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW., Washington, D.C., 20433. Main Reports 1. "Results and Analysis of the Global Survey of Improved Cookstove Programs," J. Ramakrishna. (Survey done in collaboration with the Foundation for Woodstove Dissemination, Nairobi; Association Bois de Feu, Paris; and the Center for Mesoamerican Studies on Appropriate Technology, Guatemala.) "Improved Stove Programs: Where are We Now?" KR. Smith & J. Ramakrishna. "The Hearth as System Central," K.R. Smith. Country Studies (All final) "100-million Improved Cookstoves in China: How was it Done?" S. Gu, K. Huang, D. a u , & K.R. Smith. "The Indian National Improved Stoves Program," J. Rarnakrishna. 3. "Improved Cookstove Programs in Sri Lanka: A n Evaluation," J. Bialy. "The Status of Improved Cookstove Programs in Nepal," G.S. Shrestha, H G Gorkhati, & KR. Smith. "Improved Coo kstove Programs in East and Central Africa: A Review," Wickramagamage. Background Reports "The Economics of Improved Cookstove Programs," F. Hitzhusen. "Evaluation Criteria for Improved Cookstove Programs: Assessment of Fuel Savings," Bialy. "Social and Organizational Aspects of Improved Cookstove Programs," S. Pandey. "Health Effects of Biomass Smoke: A Brief Survey of Current Knowledge," KR. Smith.

THE EAST-WEST CENTER was established in Hawaii in 1960 by the United _StateS Congress "to promote better relations and understanding between the United States and the nations Of Asia and the Pacific through cooperative study, training, and research." : Some 2,000 research fellows, graduate students; and professionals in business and government each year Work with the Center's international staff on major Asia Pacific issues relating to population, economic and trade policies, resources and the environment, culture and communication, and international relations. Since 1960, more than 27,000 men and women from the region have participated in the Center's cooperative programs. Officially known as the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, Inc., the Center is a public, non-profit institution with an international board of governors. Principal funding Comes from the United States Congress. Support also comes from More than twenty Asian and Pacific governments, as Well as private agencies and corporations.

THE EAST-WEST ENVIRONMENT AND POLICY INSTITUTE (EMI) was established in October 1977 Through interdisciplinary and multinational programs of research and training, the Institute seeks to develop concepts and methods for sustainable environmental management and to address major environmental issues of the Asia-Pacific region. Program plans and projects are developed and carried out in collaboration with colleagues from the region and others throughout the world. Results of Institute programs are disseminated through books, journal articles, occasional papers, working papers, newsletters, and other educational and informational materials Reconciling development with the environment by bringing social and natural systems into harmony with one another is EAPI'S overall objective. Achievement of this objective involves both maintaining environmental quality and improving the quality of human life. To - help attain these interlinked goals, [API draws on the knowledge base of the natural and social sciences to develop and disseminate new tools for policymaking, management, edu 7 cation, and research. Work of the Institute is organized within four programs that interact _substantially with each other and with other institutes and programs of the East-West Center. .