the wood farming process more lucrative, thus reducing the costs of wood and charcoal to
producers and retailers.
Policy Influence
The current initiative has not maximised its potential because the business environment is
not well developed. Corruption is endemic, especially in the transport stage in which drivers
are subject to regulatory harassment from officials. The project aims to influence
government policy to develop an enabling environment to ensure policies and regulatory
issues can allow the emergence of a charcoal sub-sector.
2.1.1. Improved cook stoves
Efficient and clean burning cooking stoves range from artisanal or semi-industrially
produced clay and metal wood fuel stoves to cookers using plant oil, ethanol or
biogas. The most widely used technologies of all these stove categories are
improved woodstoves and charcoal stoves, since they are more affordable, and the
fuel is common in most markets.
Woodstove. A clay artisanal
model. Photo: GTZ Malawi.
Charcoal stove (Jiko). A
clay/metal model. Photo:
GTZ Kenya
A rocket stove diagram.
APROVECHO
Improved stoves may take many shapes. However, the two main technical
principals are always the same: improved combustion and improved heat transfer
to the pot. Stoves may be mobile such as the clay stove or Jiko (pictured above), or
in-built such as the Lorena (pictures in the case study). The two main advantages
of ICS are: a reduction in indoor air pollution - with huge benefits to people’s health
(particularly women and children); and a reduction in fuel required for cooking - with
associated savings on time spent collecting firewood, money spent purchasing
fuels, reduced impact on forest resources and reduced carbon emissions.
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