Socioeconomic Impacts of Biogas in Suklagandaki Municipality of Tanahun District

Abstract

This paper examines socioeconomic impacts of biogas in the western hills of Nepal in general and the Suklagandaki Municipality of Tanahun district in particular. Biogas is considered as a sustainable renewable energy. It has positive environmental impacts on local, national and global levels. It is one of the most reliable alternative energy resources replacing fuel wood for cooking especially in rural areas of Nepal. On the basis of 40 biogas users sampled households, this paper revealed that more than 70 percent households reported that after the installation of biogas plant, there were some positive changes in their socioeconomic conditions. For example, the use of biogas energy has saved about 70 percent of the household fuel consumption especially for firewood and kerosene. About 60 percent households have reported that use of biogas as an energy sources has also saved them working loads and time and waste of biogas increased 65 percent of the total agricultural production. The use of biogas energy has also improved in their health through smoke prone diseases such as burning eyes, headache, coughing and throat ache. Biogas plant has also improved in household sanitary condition and practices, it has also reduced firewood consumption. This paper also indicates the negative impacts of biogas plant installation such as increase the number of mosquito population and losses of warmth in the house especially in winter season. The overall findings show that biogas has certainly beneficial for the socioeconomic changes in the rural areas of the study area.