1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre del proyecto que financió la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

DESIRE (EU-DES!RE)

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

University of Botswana (University of Botswana) - Botswana

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

¿Cuándo se compilaron los datos (en el campo)?

19/02/2009

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Production of methane gas from cow-dung for use in house-hold cooking, heating and lighting in order to reduce fire wood demand

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Biogas plant: The biogas plant can be constructed in several ways as long as it can provide a medium for the biological material be digested. Biogas is the name given to the gas that is produced during the decomposition of some organic waste specifically to produce methane gas. The gas is then captured in a storage tank (on site) to be used for household energy needs. In many parts of the world where this technology is used (including Botswana) the most common form of input material is cow dung making it more appropriate for rural environments.

Purpose of the Technology: Advantages: the technology offers two major advantages; first, at every level of use i.e. individual or institutional, savings in terms of energy is realized. The only costs that are borne are at installation, otherwise input of cow dung has a minimal cost of collection (if any at all). The second advantage is that there is reduced usage of fuel wood which translates into less cutting down of trees leading to reduced deforestation and degradation of land. A disadvantage is the initial investment which is significant for poor farmers.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Construction of the biogas plant: construction of the plant consists of three main chambers: namely, the Digester pit where all the microbiological reactions or decomposition of the material takes place. The digester has to be built to be air-tight with the released gas only escaping into the gas holder. The gas holder is connected to the digester by way of a pipe. Its main purpose is to collect all the gas that has been fermented. The mixing pit is the input chamber where the dung is mixed with water and fed into the digester. The amount and quality of water required for this is no constraint, even in this water stressed area. Construction the biogas plant has to be done according to specifications. A technical drawing of the plant is shown on page 3. The purpose of the technology is to use it for house-hold energy (for cooking, lighting and running appliances).

Natural / human environment: In Botswana the technology was introduced by the Rural Industries Innovation Center which is a government funded research institution. Despite the existence of this company for many years, the uptake has been very low due to poor marketing and extension services and lack of financial assistance to poor farmers.
Biogas is suitable either for a farm, cattle post or rural setting where the inputs (cow dung) are easily available. But there are possibilities of experimenting with other bio-degradable materials in major centres where cow dung is not readily available.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• 10-50 años atrás

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

The technology is promoted by a government funded NGO, but has its origins outside the country

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación del suelo
• conservar el ecosistema
• crear impacto económico benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Overgrazing of the commons, droughts, saline water and over-harvesting of fuelwood for cooking, heating leading to deforestation and land degradation

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Overgrazing of the commons, droughts, saline water and over-harvesting of fuelwood for cooking, heating leading to deforestation and land degradation.

Grazingland comments: Biogass technology is not applied in the Boteti area at the moment, only at DESIRE test site.

Selective felling of (semi-) natural forests: specific tree species are felled for fuelwood even though people are supposed to take only fallen-dead wood

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Mixed cropping is the traditional practice but government extension advice promotes monocropping which the majority find expensive and risky.

Type of grazing system comments: Biogass technology is not applied in the Boteti area at the moment, only at DESIRE test site.

Constraints of settlement / urban

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• de secano

Comentarios:

Water supply: Also post-flooding

Número de temporadas de cultivo por año:

• 1

Especifique:

Longest growing period in days: 179 Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Mar

Densidad del ganado (si fuese relevante):

1-10 LU /km2

3.4 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• tecnologías de eficiencia energética

3.5 Difusión de la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0 m2.

This technology is basically on a point location, even though it is to benefit a wider area in terms of conservation

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main measures: management measures

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (harvesting of fuelwood for cooking, sometimes live trees are harvested.), land tenure (Area is communal grazing land)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Trees are cut for bush fences), droughts (The study area is prone to droughts), poverty / wealth ((lack of alternative livelihood sources))

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• restaurar/ rehabilitar tierra severamente degradada

Comentarios:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

The diagram shows the technical layout of a biogas plant; showing the position of the main components: Digester, Gas holder, Mixing pit, and outlet. Cow dung & or kitchen waste (except bones) is mixed with water to form a sludge. This sludge is fed into the digester pit where decomposition and fermentation takes place. As the sludge ferments, methane gas is produced. Methane is a combustible gas and can therefore be used for cooking and lighting. Specially designed gas stoves and lanterns may be required as the gas would not be purified and hence ‚thicker‘ than commercially produced gasses. However, the design can include a water filled pipe bend (u shaped) between the gas holder and outlet pipe. The water in this pipe would help to purify the gas before it is fed to the household appliances. The gas holder tank floats in water, through which the gas bubbles escape and methane gas collects into the floating tank. An outlet through which decomposed material leaves the plant is necessary. Old sludge would float and be removed through this opening (Diagram drawn by G. Koorutwe, Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana).

Location: Mopipi. Boteti Sub-District

Date: 05/10/11 (revised)

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high (Skilled technician is needed for installation)

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: reduction of wood exploitation

Secondary technical functions: promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), enhancement of tree growth

Structural measure: Digestion pit
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 3.38
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 2.06

Structural measure: Gas holder
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 2
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1.6

Construction material (other): bricks, pipes, cement, iron sheets

Change of land use practices / intensity level: Use of biogass for cooking would lead to reduced cutting of wood for cooking

4.3 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

Pula

Indique la tasa de cambio de USD a la moneda local (si fuese relevante): 1 USD =:

6,5

4.4 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento
1.	Construction	Manejo	N/A

4.5 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	Labour	Tank	1,0	198,0	198,0	100,0
Equipo	Tank	Tank	1,0	615,0	615,0	100,0
Equipo	Bricks	Tank	1,0	77,0	77,0	100,0
Equipo	Cement	Tank	1,0	123,0	123,0	100,0
Equipo	Plumbing material	Tank	1,0	154,0	154,0	100,0
Material de construcción	Earth	Tank	1,0	31,0	31,0	100,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					1198,0

Comentarios:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.5 month(s)

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Filling up with cow dung and water	Manejo	1 Day

4.7 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Equipo	Cow dung	Tank	1,0	33,0	33,0	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					33,0

Comentarios:

Costs were calculated for labour and material based on the real cost of construction at the Mopipi Site.

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Material, labour and equipment used in construction are the most determining factors affecting the costs (installation cost is US$ 1198).

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre topografía :

Altitudinal zone: 501-1000 m a.s.l. (Part of the Makgadikgadi basin)
Slopes on average: Flat (ranked 1, mainly low lying land of lucrustrine (pans) formation) and gentle (ranked 2, gently sloping (plains))

5.3 Suelos

Si se halla disponible, adjunte una descripción completa de los suelos o especifique la información disponible, por ej., tipo de suelo, pH/ acidez de suelo, capacidad de intercambio catiónico, nitrógeno, salinidad, etc. :

Soil depth on average: Shallow (ranked 1, generally soils are 40cm deep, underneath is a calcrete layer at about 40cm deep) and deep (ranked 2, some sandy area away from pans e.g. the Gidikwe Ridge )
Soil texture: Coarse/light (ranked 1, away from pans/river/flood plain = main soil type) and fine/heavy (ranked 2, sticky when wet in the depression)
Soil fertility: Low (ranked 1, sandy areas (Arenosols)) and medium (ranked 2, in flood plains of the Boteti river)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (ranked 1, low on sandy areas/soils) and topsoil organic matter (ranked 2, on the flood plains for molapo farming)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (ranked 1, very good on sandy soils) and medium (ranked 2, flood plains are medium)
Soil water storage capacity: Very low (ranked 1, on sandy soils) and medium (ranked 2, on flood plains)

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre calidad y cantidad de agua:

Ground water table: >50m (ranked 1, for Boreholes) and 5-50 m (ranked 2, wells in the Boteti River bed)
Availability of surface water: poor/none (dry season-unreliable river flow/rainfall)
Water quality (untreated): Poor drinking water (treatement required, salty water in most areas, ranked 1) and unusable (sometimes too salty even for livestock consumption, ranked 2)

5.5 Biodiversidad

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre biodiversidad:

Biodiversity: High (several game reserves (protected areas) nearby, ranked 1) and low (grazing areas with arable agriculture, ranked 2)

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly Leaders / privileged
Difference in the involvement of women and men: There is no difference, as this is mainly a family thing or institutioanal like in schools and community halls
Population density: < 10 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
10% of the land users are very rich and own 50% of the land (Cattle farmers).
60% of the land users are average wealthy and own 30% of the land (Most inhabitants).
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land (Subsistance farm).
Off-farm income specification: Saves money for buying commercial gas and electric power. Helps conserve the forests. Limited off-farm income opportunities for everyone including non-adopters of the technology.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (mostly donkeys for draught power)
Market orientation of annual cropping production system: Mixed (subsistence/commercial) Could be used/produced for domestic and commercial purposes.
Market orientation of grazing land production system: Subsistence and commercial/market
Market orientation of forest production system: Mixed (subsistence/commercial) in both cases use of biogas is approppriate

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra que pertenece a o es arrendada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• comunitaria/ aldea
• individual, sin título

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• acceso abierto (no organizado)
• individual

Derechos de uso de agua:

• comunitarios (organizado)
• individual

Comentarios:

The SLM can be used by anybody - not specified to any group. Dual grazing rights is a problem (private ranchers can also use the commons).

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Ciclo de agua/ escurrimiento de sedimento

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

Otros impactos ecológicos

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	tipo de cambios climáticos/ climas extremos	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	bien

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
tormenta de lluvia local	bien
tormenta de viento	bien

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
sequía	bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación general (río)	bien

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
periodo reducido de crecimiento	bien
temperature decrease	no muy bien

Comentarios:

Biogas technology may be limited under extreme cold conditions whereby fermentation may be limited by cold temperatures.

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

Very costly to set up, if no government aid. It is however very good for long term water provision.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

Si tiene la información disponible, cuantifique (número de hogares y/o área cubierta):

10

Comentarios:

1% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

10 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: A very insignificant number of individual farmers have used this technology

Comments on spontaneous adoption: The technology has mostly been used where the Research institution has installed in farmers' properties. Only in very few instances around the country have individuals installed it for themselves.

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: There seems to be very little marketing of biogas in the country

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
Problems of diminishing firewood species are reduced. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Because it is not every or all species that is used for firewood, the targeted species are quickly diminished
Cost of getting firewood is reduced How can they be sustained / enhanced? Distance to wood collection places are ever increasing hence users have to buy from truck or donkey cart owners
More time is freed How can they be sustained / enhanced? This especially applies to children (of school going age) in that they would have more time for their home works.

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Low maintenance and inputs are required for this technology How can they be sustained / enhanced? There is need for promotion of the technology
The structures to be put in place are very basic How can they be sustained / enhanced? There is need for the government to subsidize farmers in installing biogas plants, especially in the rual areas.
Good for rural households where firewood is used extensively. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve income of rural families so that they could afford the technology

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Too expensive for poor farmers to adopt without assistance	Donor/government subsidies

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Brown, V. J., 2006. BIOGAS: A Bright Idea for Africa. Environ Health Perspectives. 114(5), pp. A300–A303.

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

internet

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Dayal, M., Vimal, O.P., Singh, K.K., 1989. Biomass gasification in India — DNES activities. Biomass, Volume 18, issues 3-4,pp. 197-204

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

http://www.ganesha.co.uk/Articles/Biogas%20Technology%20in%20India.htm