The
Demonstration Project of Commercialization of Biogas Technology in
Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve of Yunnan Province, has been in
progress for more than one year. We have helped to constructed two
four-in-one systems and four three-in-one systems with the cooperation
of the Nature Reserve Conservancy.
The first four-in-one was constructed as demonstration and managed
by the Shusong Experimental Station of the Nature Reserve Conservancy.
It could provide biogas and fresh winter vegetables for the station.
And it is very convenient for local residents and outside organizations
that has projects here to visit because the installation just locates
near the road. It is reported that almost all the villagers in Shusong
has come to see the green house and the biogas, even farmers in other
villages far away from here has come. Furthermore, staffs from The
Nature Conservancy (an NGO of U.S.A), World Wild Fund and WAJF and
so on has ever visited this demonstration and thought it was really
a very applicable technology for local residents.
The second four-in-one installation was constructed by local farmer,
Nanji. With the guaranty from SNISD, Nanji obtained the poverty-alleviation
loan of $1200 dollar from the local Agricultural Bank. In order to
encourage him, SNISD gave him a subsidy of 360 dollar for being the
first family to accept this new technology.
Limited by the specific terrain conditions of the Northwest of Yunnan,
we couldn't construct a very standard four-in-one system exactly like
that in Dalian. We had to make some changes on the design in order
to adjust to local conditions as well as reduce the cost. The first
four-in-one is exactly the same as Dalian, but smaller. In fact, Nanji's
four-in-one system was divided into two separately parts. Pigsty,
biogas digester and toilet was constructed as three-in-one in his
orchard near his house. It would be convenient for his family to use
biogas and toilet as well as raise the pigs. The greenhouse is constructed
in his field and covers a land of 280 square meter. It is a small
greenhouse compared to that in Dalian. So if the biogas digester and
pigsty were in the greenhouse, then the land left in the greenhouse
for growing vegetables would be smaller, and it would have an impact
on the income of the family from the greenhouse. The total investment
is about 1730 dollar, with 1200 dollar comes from the bank loan, 360
dollar comes from the subsidy of SNISD and the rest from the family.
The system has been in operation for nearly six months, and all things
are well. Since winter came and the weather became colder and colder,
the volume of biogas generated from the digester decreased, but it
could still meet the basic energy demand of a family. As a result,
the family has greatly reduced the consumption of natural firewood
and saved a plenty of time and labour used to spending on gathering
the firewood. In addition, the whole family no longer need to stay
in a smoky house. Since biogas is so convenient they seldom use firewood.
It will certainly improve the health of the whole family. Many local
residents has come to Nanji's house, they were very curious about
how the biogas functioned. It really gave them great impression.
We soon made a survey in two villages. Many farmers said they were
very interested in three-in-one, especially the biogas. Because the
cost of three-in-one was not so expensive and biogas was very useful.
They were willing to borrow money from the bank if they could. When
referred to the four-in-one, they said it certainly would be very
nice to have fresh vegetables all the year, but they were not sure
whether they could get enough money from the greenhouse to pay back
the investment since they were not very good at growing vegetables.
They would wait and see whether Nanji's greenhouse would be profitable.
During the survey, six farmers expressed that they wish the Nature
Reserve Conservancy could help them to construct three-in-one as soon
as possible.
On request of the six farmers, we soon helped them to get loans from
the local bank and organized a construction team by the end of October.
Four three-in-one installations have been completed in the early December,
the other two have to be postponed to the next spring for the cold
weather. The average cost of these four installations are about 310
dollar, it is cheaper than we estimated. Since the families actively
participated in the construction and saved a lot of money on hiring
casual laborer. In addition, each family have got a subsidy of $86
dollar from SNISD.
We have just received news from Yunnan that two families could use
the biogas, and the other two would be available in two weeks. Families
that constructed three-in-one has gradually showed an interest in
growing vegetables. Although they didn't make clear plan to construct
greenhouse, they do plan to grow vegetables in their small courtyard,
and would use the residue from biogas digester as fertilizer for vegetables.
We also provided some videos on agricultural technology to the Nature
Reserve Conservancy. The Conservancy will play these videos regularly
for local residents.
Conclusions
From the demonstration project, we can conclude that three-in-one
as a rural energy model has proved to be very practical and applicable.
It makes biogas available in the high altitude area in Northwest
of Yunnan during the cold winter season. Secondly, it brings the
new idea of comprehensive utilization of biogas technology to local
residents. They began to realize that biogas is not only an alternative
energy, but also can be of great help to the development of eco-agriculture.
Since the investment of three-in-one is only about $300 dollar,
most families in Shusong village can afford it. So long as they
can get loan from the local bank, they all are very willing to construct
three-in-one.
The technicians of the Nature Reserve Conservancy has greatly improved
their capability in design and construction of three-in-one after
the training course in May. They have gained enough confidence to
extend this technology among the nature reserve.
The demonstration has attracted much attention of other local organizations
and international organizations. WWF has been working on public
environmental education in Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve for
a long while, now it decided to support a remote village in the
nature reserve to construct three-in-one. The Phelex Foundation
invite us to help their grantee, an Tibetan School to construct
a four-in-one. After two years' investigation in Northwest of Yunnan,
The Nature Conservancy has concluded that it is important to find
alternative energy for natural wood for the protection of the forest
here. The four-in-one biogas technology can be a very effective
methods.
Agricultural technology
service and market development
In September,
we have invited an expert from the Institute for Agricultural Science
of Zhongdian to Shusong . In Nanji's greenhouse, He explained in
details to the farmer and technicians of the Natrue Reserve Conservancy
how to grow vegetables in greenhouse and demonstrated in the field
how to do it. Only several days training courses couldn't make a
skilled vegetable grower. The technician of the nature reserve conservancy
is also a greener and lack of experience in vegetable growing,
Then we hired
a experienced vegetable grower from Dali. He would work in Shusong
for half year. And his main task is to care for the two greenhouses
and teach Nanji how to grow vegetable. The vegetables grows well
under his management. In December this year, Nanji began to sell
fresh vegetable generated from his greenhouse and was welcomed by
local residents.
But Nanji still worried about the loan. He was not sure whether
he could earn enough money from the vegetables to return the loan.
We found that there grew a variety of vegetables in his greenhouse,
and some species were of low economic benefit, such as cabbage.
Nanji told us that the Dali farmer we hired was not familiar with
local market and didn't care for it. He has always been worrying
about how to return the loan.
After careful consideration, we decided to entrust the Institute
for Agricultural Science (IAS)of Zhongdian to provide technology
service and market development training to local farmer and signed
an agreement with them. They will ensure that the farmer would get
no less than $610 dollar per year if he works hard. SNISD agreed
to cover the administration cost and support two technicians of
IAS to travel to Dalian for a short-term training.
Conclusions
It is important to cooperate with local professional institute.
As an Ngo based in Beijing, it is difficult for us to provide agricultural
technology service directly to farmer in time, and the travel expenses
will be very high. Close cooperation with professional local partner
will make the new technology easier to be extended.
The following
activities
1. Select 50 households to develop three-in-one system in Shusong
Village.
2. Support two technicians of the Institute for Agricultural Science
of Zhongdian to Dalian for a short-term training. If possible, we
will select 2-3 families outside the nature reserve to develop four-in-one
with the cooperation of IAS.
3. We realized that many schools of Deqin County has difficulties
in the supply of energy and fresh vegetables in winter. If we could
select 1-2 schools, and help them to construct a four-in-one, then
it can provide biogas to the canteen of the school, and students
can eat fresh vegetables in winter. In addition, the four-in-one
installation can be a training center of agricultural technology
for students, then this technology could be disseminated to students'
families.
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