1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

19/10/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

Biogas protects the environment through reduced tree cutting and emission of harmful gases and the bi- product removed from the digester is used as organic fertilizer that boosts crop production.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Domestic biogas plant converts livestock manure into biogas and organic fertilizer. The technique uses cow dung to produce methane gas for lighting and heating.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Domestic biogas plants convert livestock manure into biogas and bio-slurry, a form of organic fertilizer (fermented manure). Biogas is a renewable energy or gas produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Most people in Uganda, especially in rural areas, don’t have access to electricity and mostly rely on firewood and charcoal (mostly in urban areas). This has led to depletion of forests since these forests are the main supply of wood fuel. The domestic biogas technique uses fresh cow dung to produce methane gas for lighting and heating.

This technology is viable for smallholder farmers with livestock that are capable of producing 25 kg of fresh dung per day, typically about five indigenous cows. This makes the technology suitable for smallholders in developing countries. Fresh cow dung is collected and mixed with water at a ratio of 1:1, depending on the thickness of the dung, to produce a free-flowing mixture. The mixture is poured into the digester where microbes break it down under an oxygen-free environment and in the process release methane gas which is harvested in a cylinder and piped straight into the home for lighting and/ or heating.
Dimensions for the Digester (4m in diameter and 3 m in depth). Overflow tank/ Outlet is 2 meters by 2 meters. Materials used in the construction of the plant include sand, cement, bricks, iron rods, gravel and water. Biogas stove, lamp and its appliances and gas controller or pressure gauge are connected after the construction of the biogas plant which can be purchased from specified outlets on the urban markets.

Production and use of biogas protects the environment through reduced tree cutting and emission of harmful greenhouse gases (GHG). It also eases the workload of rural women and children by providing a safe and cheap source of fuel since it reduces the risk encountered by children and women looking for firewood and spares their time that would otherwise be spent in the process. The bi-product (bio-slurry) removed from the digester at the end of the process is used as organic fertilizer which boosts crop productivity and is a highly nutritious feed supplement for animals.
The technology has safety issues especially on the side of children when it comes to the flammable gas.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Kawcom Uganda constructs Biogas Plant for its coffee suppliers.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

The technology is applied around the land user's homestead.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Irrigation performed during the dry season. i.e. around mid November to mid March while the river Gibuzale provides water for the biogas plant and for irrigation.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

One can have 2 agricultural seasons if a field is NOT near a water source. Three (3) such season are possible if the field is near a river.

Livestock density (if relevant):

3 cows

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• integrated soil fertility management
• energy efficiency technologies

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The technology addresses biological degradation (reduction of vegetation cover) through reduced cutting of trees for firewood.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Biogas reduces and prevents land degradation through reduction in deforestation to supply firewood and charcoal.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Components and Construction of the Bio gas plant
The size of the biogas plant is based on the availability of raw materials, use and financial status. The Biogas plant has the following components the inlet pipe/ tank, the digester, the outlet tank and gas pipe. Materials used in the construction of the plant include Sand, Cement, bricks, iron rods, gravel and water.
The land should be leveled before construction after which the pits are evacuated in their proper sizes and depth. After which construction of the walls begins with a mixture of cement and sand with a ratio of 1:4.
The inlet pipe is about 15cm in diameter which is connected to the digester. Dimensions for the Digester are 4m in diameter and 3m in depth with the thickness of 35cm and strong enough to with stand the load since they are partially buried under ground. The gas pipe is connected to the digester which carries the gas to the point of utilization, such as a stove or lamp. The digester is connected to the overflow tank which is 2 meters in diameter and 2meters in depth.
Biogas stove, lamp and its appliances and gas controller or gauge are connected after the construction of the biogas plant.

Production of Biogas
Biogas is produced from biodegradable materials such as animal dung mixed with water. Before the dung is fed into the plant, it is mixed with water in a tank or basin to give a solid content of 1: 1.5 ratios in the slurry. The mixture is discharged into the digester through the inlet pipe. The mixture ferments inside this digester and biogas is produced through bacterial action, the gas of which settles on top of the slurry in the digester which goes through a gas pipe connected on top of the tank. The gas pipe has a gas/pressure regulator which controls the outlet pressure of the gas to the gas burner or bulb. The digested slurry is discharged into the outlet tank through the outlet opening and use a fertiliser.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3600.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Plan and take measurements	Structural	Not applicable
2.	Buy and deliver the construction materials	Structural	Not applicable
3.	Dig the pits	Structural	Not applicable
4.	Build the concrete	Structural	Not applicable
5.	Put the pipes	Structural	Not applicable
6.	Connect to the stove and lamp	Structural	Not applicable

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If possible, break down the costs of establishment according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

451.16

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Man labour (Digging the holes))	Person-days	2.0	13.89	27.78	50.0
Labour	Man labour (Building)	person-days	20.0	4.17	83.4	50.0
Equipment	Stove	piece	1.0	27.78	27.78	50.0
Equipment	Lamp	Piece	1.0	27.78	27.78	100.0
Construction material	Bricks	Piece	700.0	0.042	29.4	50.0
Construction material	Cement	Bag (50kg)	11.0	8.89	97.79	50.0
Construction material	Sand	Tonnes	1.0	41.67	41.67	50.0
Construction material	Stones	Tonnes	0.5	27.78	13.89	50.0
Other	Pipes	piece @ 10m	3.0	4.17	12.51	50.0
Other	Wire goose	Meters	3.0	1.94	5.82	50.0
Other	Transportation	Trip	3.0	27.78	83.34	50.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					451.16

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Kawacon Uganda Limited

Comments:

Kawacom (U) Ltd imports coffee thus it supports coffee farmers who are its suppliers.
The length of the gas pipes also depends on the distance from the plant to the homestead.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Manual mixing of the dung & water	Management	Every Morning
2.	Add mixture (dung & water)	Management	Every morning
3.	Emptying of the the overflow	Management	When necessary

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

5.32

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Man Labour	persons- days	2.0	1.39	2.78	100.0
Equipment	Mixing Basin	piece	1.0	1.39	1.39	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow dung	kg	40.0	0.028	1.12	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Water	Litres	20.0	0.0014	0.03	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					5.32

Comments:

The maintenance costs were estimated at a two weekly basis. Most smaller holders don't incur any costs on maintenance since labour and acquisition of the dung is got from their own cows and from friends which is free of charge and use family labour. The cost for water accounts for labour used to fetch the water from the stream

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The construction costs, determined by the size of the biogas plant.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

The area gets water from River Gibuzale that flows through the village.

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

The technology has less impact on the off site since its practiced in the land user's homestead.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

No maintenance costs involved hence higher benefits.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

10

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

All received support from Kawacom (U) Ltd.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It eases the workload by providing a safe and cheap source of fuel compared to firewood
The bi- product at the end of the process is used as organic fertilizer that boosts crop production

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Biogas protects the environment through reduced deforestation hence climate change mitigation.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Inadequate dung	Collects dung from cattle owners in the area

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Safety issues especially on the side of children when it comes to the flammable gas	Continuous safety education measures to prevent fire out breaks

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Uganda Domestic Biogas Programme (UDBP)

URL:

https://www.ngoaidmap.org/projects/3031

Title/ description:

Power for the Poor From Animal Manure, Food Waste

URL:

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2018-1-january-february/faces-clean-energy/power-for-poor-animal-manure-food-waste