Upcountry insight: Biogas technology benefiting rural farmers

NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI - The dream of Biogas technology benefits is being realized by a number of residents in the rural areas, who over time have been finding it quite strenuous and expensive to use fire wood or Kerosene for cooking and lighting. John Ndageya, a resident of Ibereshi village of Gisuna cell in Byumba Sector is one such resident proud of Biogas technology. “This Biogas collection site is the biggest among those constructed in all homesteads of Gicumbi District”, he boasted. Ndageya is one of the residents who benefited from the National Biogas Development Project (NDBP), under the Ministry of Infrastructure that finances Biogas technology installations among rural livestock farmers. Ndageya further says each farmer acquired a loan of Rwf.400,000frw from IRIBA microfinance bank, which was paid back in two installments to meet the cost of constructing the Biogas plant. “NDBP constructed the Biogas plant using 20 bags of cement, five wheelbarrows of sand and five of concrete stones at their own cost. The 400,000frw paid by each farmer to NDBP is a contribution to enable the Biogas technology reach other farmers country wide”, added Ndageya. The Biogas installation at Ndageya’s home is made up of three concrete pits, one being a collection center for cow dung, which is channeled to the second pit measuring 2 square metres to produce Biogas, that is further transmitted through a valve via gas pipes leading to the kitchen. The third pit is a collection center for excess cow dung that flows from the Biogas production pit, which also serves as a fertilizer collection center. According to Ndageya, Biogas is produced when 60kg of cow dung is mixed with 20 litres of cattle urine on a daily basis. “The Biogas production reduces when supply of cow dung and cattle urine is not supplied daily”, Ndageya who currently owns eight Fresian cattle further says. During the visit to Tumba College of Technology (TCT) in Rulindo district early this year, the Minister of state for Energy Albert Butare accompanied by Japan Ambassador to Rwanda Shigeo Iwatan San, advised TCT students to put much effort in the production of Biogas. “Government is committed to diversifying energy sources through creating alternative energy sources such as Biogas, Methane, and Solar in addition to Hydro”, said Butare. Minister Butare further said Biogas technology shall enable Rwandans to conserve the environment, through reduction of dependency on biomass sources. The Japanese Ambassador promised to double the assistance his country has been rendering TCT, in terms of providing skilled staff and equipments to train as many students in Biogas and solar production technology. Ends