Good Practices in Bioenergy Feedstock Production

Women Provide Testimonies on ACON Stove Use and Benefits

lnitially it was difficult to introduce the stoves in rural settings because they cost money and the commonly used traditional three-stone fires are normally free. However, people came to recognise the significant benefits of the Rocket stoves in terms of greater fuel efficiency, time saved in fetching firewood, and less smoke, which makes kitchen environment healthier.

At first women mainly focused on producing Kenya Ceramic stove liners and stayed away from making the metal cladding. Today a women-only artisan group operates at the local market and produces metal cladding and carries out stove assembly. Over time, the women producer groups have come up with Moto stoves design which is portable after African Christians Organization Network training them on how to make it .

“My name is Zakina Makokha. I am 45 and married to Mohemmed Makokha. Together with our son (7 years) and daughter (5 years), we live in Bwule village in Musamba Sub-location,Matungu Districk, Kakamega county. My husband is a carpenter in Bulonga shopping centre and I make and sell chapata and tea at Bulonga shopping center local market. Our main hope is to increase our family income so as to improve our shelter and furniture and to secure a good education for our children.

”I gained great benefit from attending a three-day Moto stove training course. We discussed issues such as the disadvantages of using firewood and its negative impact on the environment and forests and how it leads to food insecurity. We learnt how to construct an Moto stove from metal scrabe . I made my own Moto stove and took it home.

“I also made another one for my work in the market because I experienced its efficiency and the safe use of energy. I used to buy about five bands of firewood in order to cook five kilos of flour. Since using the Moto stove, two bands are sufficient to cook the same quantity of flour. As a result, I’m saving about 100 Kshs per day. I save time by using Moto stove, and now have more free time for other domestic work which I neglected before, such as cleaning, or even taking much-needed rest!”

The stove production skills I was given have enabled me to start a successful stoves business. I now earn my own income which has enabled me to meet my financial needs. My children can now go to school, I have built a stone house and I am just waiting to install floor tiles. I now have money to employ people to work on my farm which has

increased production. I even make money from training others outside Kenya. These days I have my own money and I do not have to borrow from my Husband.

IMPACTS

lncreased incomes

The women in the stove producing groups have earned additional money, which they have been able to use to buy more food for their households and pay school fees. The annual estimated profit per member is US$125 (compared to the minimum monthly wage in rural Kenya of US$47). The part-time women stove installers earn between US$15-31 per month. The female artisans in the local market who work full-time earn between US$125 and US$187 per month.

lmproved household living conditions

As a result of using more efficient stoves women do not have

to spend as much time collecting firewood. There is less smoke in their living areas, which makes it a healthier environment for the whole family. The women who work on producing the stoves part-time can combine this work with childcare and other domestic tasks.

Business innovation

The project has unleashed women’s creative selling capacities, and

over time the women’s groups have come up with their own

innovative ideas "Rotating Credit and Savings (ROSCA) Financing Working Well for ACON Sales of Stoves" ROSCA and the results is more than 10,000 Moto Stoves are in use. We have reached this far by your support through donations that we receive from you.Thank you very much for donating towards this project.