Challenges, Opportunities and Use of Biogas Production among Ebantu District Households, East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Biogas is the vital alternative source of energy in the world. Biogas technology adoption has several hang-ups and challenges. The study aimed at assessing the challenges, opportunities and use of biogas production in Ebentu district. Cross sectional design was used to evaluate the challenges, opportunities and use of biogas. About 21 biogas users and 264 non biogas users’ households were participated. Primary data were derived from field surveys using questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The results of the study revealed that primary cooking fuels were 243(92.04%) firewood and 109 (41.29%)charcoal. About 17(80.95%) of the respondents with biogas users were still using wood fuel as their main source of energy. But, the majority of the biogas users 8(38.1%) in the study area were benefited time and improved health status from biogas. They were used biogas slurry as an organic fertilizer to maintain soil fertility. The Use of biogas were also challenged with lack of adequate funds (56.82%), poor infrastructure (59.85%), lack of zero grazing unit, inadequate skilled disseminators(34.39%), poverty(56.82%), community’s negative attitude towards biogas energy162(61.36%), high installation cost (59.85%) and lack of interest (56.44%). In case of the opportunities towards increasing the uptake of biogas technology among households, the study found that: micro finance (76.52%), increased government willing and support 203(76.89%), training program for disseminators in both kebeles were the vital items 203(76.89%). Finally, the study concludes that the potential of biogas technology in energy provision is huge but it is poorly tapped. In order to unlock the huge potential of biogas technology, financial credit facilities should be made. It would be more accessible especially for the low income farmers. Sustained, comprehensive educational and awareness creation on the use of biogas technologies should be enhanced and more efforts ought to be done in training biogas technicians at the local level.