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6.0 EFFECTS OF BIOGAS PLANT
The project implementation document of BSP states that the overall objective of the programme is to develop
and disseminate biogas as an indigenous, sustainable energy source in rural areas of Nepal and it aims to reduce
the rate of deforestation and environmental deterioration by providing biogas as a substitute for firewood and
dung cakes to meet the energy demand of the rural population; to improve hygiene and health of the rural
population, especially women, by eliminating smoke produced while cooking on firewood, and by reducing
hardships faced in firewood collection and with better management of dung and night soil and to increase
agricultural production by promoting optimal utilization of digested dung as organic fertilizer.
Hence, it is evident that there arc many facets of the beneficiary chain on which the Biogas support Programme,
more specifically, the biogas plant, is expected to have some effects. Among them, the majors are; recipient
families in rural areas who have adopted the technology, the actors involved in disseminating the technology
and their ability to carry out their tasks and the environment. This chapter, in conjunction with the objective and
scope of work of this study, intends to address some of the major effects of biogas plant on the users and the
environment.
6.1 Effects on Biogas Related Activities
6.1.1 Cattle Raising and Dung Collection
The Users Survey conducted in 1993 reported that the change in number of cattle before and after the
installation of the biogas plant was very insignificant. Even though some of the plant owners were said to have
added few cattle, it was not due to the installation. Any decrease in cattle number was mainly because of some
fatal disease. Consequently, the time to take care of the cattle remained unchanged. The outcome of this study
also suggested similar outcomes. The respondents told that installation of biogas has compelled them to keep at
least a minimum number of cattle for feeding the plant that has helped in year round supply of milk or additional
manure.
According to all respondents the installation of the biogas plant had no effect on the time allocation with regard
to the collection of dung. The increase in time for some households was negligible. In the very beginning, after
the construction of the biogas plant, dung was collected also from outside by all the households to fill the
digester. Once the digester was filled, all households, use dung from their own stables. When asked the
respondents if biogas plant installation has encouraged the stall feeding, 90% of them replied in negative. The
remaining 10% told that they have started to keep cattle in shades after the installation of plants that used to be
taken for grazing during daytime. However the time of fodder collection was not increased as the person who
used to take and care the cattle in grazing areas has now started collecting fodder.
6.1.2 Collection of Fodder, Feeding and Milking of Cattle
The outcome of the study suggested that the duration for fodder collection was not affected by the installation of
the plant as the cattle raising pattern did not change. Almost all families (89%) collected the fodder from their
own field, the remaining l1i% collected it from the near by jungle. According to the respondents, time needed to
collect fodder varied from day to day and from place to place depending upon quantity required and availability
of fodder. Usually 30 minutes to 4 hrs daily was spent for fodder collection by each family. The duration of
fodder collection was not affected by the installation of biogas plants. The study revealed that the time allocated
for feeding and milking of cattle slightly increased by an average of 0.01 hr/day/family on an average after the
installation of biogas plant.
6.1.3 Collection of Water
The outcome of the study indicated that the time allocated to collect additional water required for plant feeding
was 0.32 hrs/day/family on an average.