SOLAR COOKERS
AS A MEANS FOR REDUCING DEFORESTATION
IN NEPAL
Anita Manandhar
Centre for Rural Technology
Nepal
GENERAL BACKGROUND
Much more fossil fuels are being used today in the world. Some people are concerned about its
extensive use as once it will be used to the extreme, there will be a total havoc. However, in
developing countries, the senario is a bit different. Energy for cooking food are mostly
dependent upon forest resources. Also in Nepal, 96% of population depend upon bio-mass
energy for domestic purposes to which 76% is provided by fuelwood alone. Nepal being a
mountainous country without any other conventional sources is facing serious problem of
deforestation. Population has increased to 18.5 million and
continued to increase at the rate of 2.08% annually, creating more pressure on forest for
energy requirement making deforestation more intense.
The forest cover in Nepal is estimated to be about 37 percentage of the total land area. The
decrease in forest land is estimated to be equivalent to 100,000 hectares per year. Since each
person approximately uses I cubic metre or 640 kg of fuelwood per year and since 90% of
the population live in rural areas using fuelwood as main source of cooking
energy, fuelwood demand has increased to about 16.2 million cubic metre while Nepal's forest
growth is less than 8 million cubic metre per year.
To combat with this deforestation problem, government, various NGOs and
private
agencies are planning and introducing different kinds of activities for reforestation,
afforestation and fuelwood saving programmes. Reforestation in Nepal is believed to be less
than 15,000 hectares per year as against the reforestation target of 35,000 hectares per year
in the 7th Five Year Plan (1985-1990).
PROMOTION OF SOLAR COOKING AS AN ALTERNATIVE SUPPLEMENTARY
COOKING OPTION
With the above context in view, it has been realised that there is strong need of some
alternative energy sources side by side with the reforestation and afforestation activities. Solar
cooking is one of the alternative technology which help reduce the pressure on forest for
cooking energy requirements. Everyone knows that sunlight gives heat but only a few are
utilising it for cooking food in Nepal. Many people do not easily believe that solar energy can
cook food but when seen with their own eyes, they become interested and not only cook food
but also promote this pollution free environment friendly option for cooking as well as for
saving energy. Solar cooking has following advantages for the benefit of developing countries
like Nepal.
The advantages of Solar Cooking:
-
1. Solar cooking is basically an environment friendly technology as it
uses solar energy which is not used up as any other conventional
energy.
-
2. Solar energy is free of cost as is freely available to all.
-
3. It does not emit smoke and hence pollution free.
-
4. It helps in pasteurising water to make it safe for drinking.
The promotion of Solar cookers in Nepal is still in infant stage and the advantages from this is
yet to be quantified. But with the available experience, use of solar cookers definitely reduces
fuelwood consumption. Considering the number of sunshine days, solar cookers can be used
for at least 6 months a year when the days are sunny. Pasteurising water and cooking any one
item in the solar cooker will reduce the fuelwood consumption substantially.
Considering that out of 3 cooking of meal in a day, only 1 cooking is done for about 6 months
a year with the help of solar cookers, each family in Nepal will be saving about 16% of
fuelwood or about 500 kg of fuelwood per year per family. This saving can be considered as
a significant contribution in reducing deforestation and also meeting household energy,
improved health, sanitation with further benefits towards retaining valuable nutrition in the
food consumption at family level.
Recognising that solar cooking could reduce pressure on forest and improve family
health and hygine, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has planned to promote 5000 solar
cookers during the 8th Five Year Plan (1992-1997).
CRT IN THE PROMOTION AND DISSEMINATION OF SOLAR COOKING
The Centre for Rural Technology (CRT), is established in 1989 by a group of concerned people
to assist institution and individuals involved in the promotion of appropriate
technologies suited to rural conditions in Nepal. The Centre's major thrust, since its
establishment, has been in energy related technologies such as Improved Cooking Stove ICS,
Improved Water Mills, Bio-gas Plants, Toilets and Solar Cookers. CRT adopts a participatory
technology development approach whereby the users, entrepreneurs and promoters work
together and share ideas, experiences and views regarding the technology in concern.
In line with the government plan as well as considering the urgent need of reducing the
deforestation in Nepal, the Centre (CRT) has been taking different inititatives to promote and
disseminate the solar cooking in conjuction with other fuelwood saving devices such as
Improved Cooking Stove technology in Nepal.
Different types of solar cookers are made and used in different countries. However, in
Nepal, mostly following four types are being used, such as:
- Cardboard box type
- Wooden box type
- Bamboo Basket box type
- Parabolic type
Since last few years, CRT has been undertaking different activities on Solar Cooking.
They are:
Testing of variety of solar cookers made from different materials available in the
country such as cardboard, wooden box, bamboo basket, metal sheets for
parabolic, etc.
Holding number of public demonstration to create awareness among the urban
and rural people.
Recruitment of school and college graduates and volunteers as solar cooker
promoters and provide a platform for interested individuals to fabricate and test different models of solar cookers.
Provide training to solar cooker promoters and monitor the
effects and impacts.
Publication of solar cooking promotional materials and training
manuals.
Organise a series of solar cooking technology discussion sessions,
seminar/workshop/exhibitions for policy level people.
Fabrication of solar cookers from different kinds of materials
found locally.
Linking promoters and entreprenuers with interested groups and users and help
meet the demand of materials for cookers.
CRT has already conducted about 20 solar cooking training, orientation and
demonstration participated by over 300 promoters and community workers working with
the local communities. More than 150 solar cookers have been promoted and distributed
with constant follow-up and supervision. The public demonstration and awareness
campaign on solar cooking technology has created a strong interest among the general
people. In the urban areas, the high cost of energy and rising prices of electricity force
people to find alternative sources of energy. Those who have the opportunity of
understanding the working of solar cooking and its advantages, they wanted to adopt a
more permanent one though a little costly, that is of wooden type. In the rural areas,
most of the people feel it is miraculous to see food being cooked simply putting in the
sun for some time, but hesitate to spend the amount for one.
MAJOR ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS IN THE PROMOTION OF SOLAR
COOKING TECHNOLOGY
Inspite of the simplicity in the technology and long term cost effectiveness in the
investment on solar cookers, the adoption of these by rural and urban masses has been
slower than expected. There are certain socio-cultural sensitivities and factors which
directly or indirectly effect in the acceptance and promotion of solar cookers. They are
mainly:
The physical condition of Nepal with hills and mountains with poor infrastructure
makes inaccessible for solar cooker promotion.
The settlement in the hill and mountains are scattered and are agglomerated. The
houses also lack of the open space outside making it unpractical to cook food
outside.
Changes in cooking and eating habit is encountered which people are not ready
to do.
Superstition of cooking in the open where "evil eye" can fall while cooking,
makes people difficult to accept solar cookers.
Because of the food habits including taking early morning meal, solar cookers
can be useful only for cooking afternoon snacks and evening meals.
Extensive use of solar cookers is restricted as the cookers are yet costly for most
of the rural people and could not be used throughout the year such as during
monsoon season, cloudy days and winter.
Families have to adjust to different food habits such as taking solar cooked food,
boiled food and adjust to its taste from taking fried food,etc.
SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION FOR ENHANCING SOLAR COOKING
TECHNOLOGY
Simple type of Solar cookers which can be locally fabricated
should be promoted.
Local cadre of women promoters need to be trained and engaged to promote
solar cookers along with orientation on the use.
Solar cooking concept be integrated with the existing cooking devices and
kitchen management.
Subsidy upto 50% be provided in the initial years and included in the bank loan
packages.
Basic research on cooking various types of local foods has to be carried out
and provide the information to the promoters and users.
Organizations which are directly involved in the promotion of solar cookers have
to be strengthened for monitoring and follow up activities.