Over 40 potters in Katsina State have been trained in the production of efficient wood stoves. This is one of the early results of the “Farmer Managed Renewable Energy Production in Katsina State”. The goal of the project is to restore the fuel wood balance in Sandamu, Zango, Dutsi, Baure and Mashi, Daura and Mai’adua Local Government Areas of the State.
Katsina State is in the frontline of the expanding Sahara Desert. Over 95% of households use wood for cooking. Woodfuel is scarce, costly and smoke from cooking has become a major problem for mostly women and children. This collaborative project between Oxfam and ICEED seeks to train local potters and artisans in the production of efficient wood stoves using local raw materials. The reduction in wood use by these stoves saves money for families, reduces health impacts and helps the environment.
The Katsina project fills an important gap in Nigeria’s clean cookstoves market. Unlike several African countries, the supply of efficient biomass stoves to the poorer segment of the market is almost non-existent in the country. By training potters and other artisans in the production of efficient biomass stoves with locally available materials, the project empowers communities and ensures a strong supply chain of these affordable cooking solutions. The project also builds an inclusive supply chain by training women and young people – making a vulnerable group in a poor region in Nigeria part of the climate solution.
The Katsina project is funded by the EU with counterpart funding from Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. It enjoys the support of the collaboration between the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and the Uganda National Alliance on Clean Cooking in stove design and training. Already GIZ Uganda as part of the Uganda Alliance has sent a consultant to Katsina State to lead training efforts as well as share market development experiences. As the project progresses, training in stove production and market development will be open to partners of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.
Stove models from the project are currently being tested in the ICEED Clean Cookstoves Laboratory at IRECA in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. This comes in addition to user preference tests in communities in Katsina State.
Katsina State embraces clean cookstoves!
