Solar box cooker: Use of solar has reduced the danger of burns, cooking time and saved firewood

12 June, 2008 - Yak herders of Nubri and Soie Yaksa in Paro are becoming less dependent on kerosene and firewood for lighting with alternative energy sources like solar power available.

The use of sustainable energy technology in the rangeland areas of Nubri and Soie Yaksa, which was on trial for the past year, has been declared a success by the council for RNR research of Bhutan (CORRB), based on feedback from the beneficiaries.

Herders from Nubri and Soie Yaksa said that the alternative energy technologies like solar lighting and the one- and two-holed metallic solar cooker were very useful and convenient. “The small portable solar light is the best. We can take it along with us whereever we go,” said Tobgay from Nubri.

Nado from Soie Yaksa said that use of solar had reduced the danger of burns, cooking time and that they saved firewood. Norza Gem from Soie Yaksa said that she could cook faster, churn milk and round up cattle at night.

A report from CORRB states that the use of kerosene has reduced by 90 percent in these areas. “With this positive result, we’re looking forward to apply these technologies in the rangeland areas of Thimphu, Bumthang and Merak Sakten,” said the director of CORRB, Dr Tashi Samdup. “The project is in line with the 10Th Plan, which is poverty eradication, environment protection and generation of economic activities,” he said. “We started the project on a small scale and wanted this to be successful before we head to a larger scale, and the response has been very promising.”

The main problem raised by farmers was the availability of spares and repair in case of breakdown. Dr Tashi Samdup said that a few of the farmers will be trained on maintenance and possibly provided with spares.

“Few of the technologies need more research and we can’t rely on international centre for integrated mountain development (ICIMOD) all the time for the supply of these equipments, so we have plans to upscale the products and promote entrepreneurs within the country for the supply,” said Dr Tashi Samdrup.

Mr Bikash Sharma, an energy specialist and the project coordinator from ICIMOD, said, “The project is targeted for the people in the rangeland areas because they form a huge portion of the population plus they support a large livestock industry, which is a dominant source of their livelihood.

“Rangelands provide valuable environment services: carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water capture and biodiversity conservation.”

On June 9, CORRB, in collaboration with ICIMOD, conducted a workshop on the development of sustainable energy for rangelands, with support from the Austrian development agency in Paro. The results from the pilot phase were also discussed.