Dairy farming and biogas use in Rungwe district, South-west Tanzania: A study of opportunities and constraints

This study examined the opportunities and constraints of biogas use in Rungwe district, Southwest Tanzania. Two hundred households with and without biogas facilities were selected randomly from four villages. Structured, semi-structured and open-ended discussion was used to gather information. Findings show a number of opportunities for biogas technology adoption including large numbers of indoor-fed cattle and inadequate firewood in the district, which has increased its cost of such commodity. Households generally spend an average of TShs. 20,656.50 per month or TShs. 247,876.8 per annum for energy. The demand for biogas (90%) among respondents is high and the energy policy as well as donor community favour the promotion of energy efficient technologies such as biogas. Constraints encountered in establishing biogas plants were found to include unaffordability (75%) and water scarcity. Also there is inadequate expertise where some of the biogas plants have been poorly constructed leading to ineffective performance. There is also a small proportion of the respondents who admitted that they had heard nothing about biogas technology. It is being suggested that credit should be available as well as developing affordable biodigestors. Communal biogas should be encouraged to reduce the cost per unit and the government should undertake the improvement of water services. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.