The text of “Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar, Poverty Profile The text of “Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar, Poverty Profile

by IDEA International Institute Quebec City, Canada, 2007” is quoted below: by IDEA International Institute Quebec City, Canada, 2007” is quoted below:

Quote: Quote:

Average household size:Average household size: S/Ds with highest average household size S/Ds with highest average household size are are RakhineRakhine (6.0) and (6.0) and KachinKachin (6.0) while those with lowest average (6.0) while those with lowest average household size are household size are BagoBago West (4.2) and Yangon (4.7).West (4.2) and Yangon (4.7).

Age dependency ratio:Age dependency ratio: It is highest in Chin, It is highest in Chin, KayinKayin and and RakhineRakhine(more than 0.70), while it is lowest in Yangon and Shan East (less (more than 0.70), while it is lowest in Yangon and Shan East (less than 0.50).than 0.50).

Prevalence of severely underweight children under 5 years of age:Prevalence of severely underweight children under 5 years of age:the situation is particularly serious in the situation is particularly serious in RakhineRakhine where 26.8% of where 26.8% of children have severe malnutrition (25.4% in rural areas and 40.6% children have severe malnutrition (25.4% in rural areas and 40.6% in urban areas.in urban areas.UnquoteUnquote

Prevalence of moderately underweight children under 5 years of Prevalence of moderately underweight children under 5 years of age:age: The situation is particularly alarming in The situation is particularly alarming in RakhineRakhine where 60.5% where 60.5% of children show moderate malnutrition (58.5% in rural areas and of children show moderate malnutrition (58.5% in rural areas and 80.2% in urban areas).80.2% in urban areas).

Cost Benefit Analysis of Biogas plant: Cost Benefit Analysis of Biogas plant: A biogas plant processes a raw material, A biogas plant processes a raw material,

such as dung into biogas and slurry (fertilizer): such as dung into biogas and slurry (fertilizer):

ii. Dung + Biogas plant + Labour . Dung + Biogas plant + Labour = Biogas + Fertilizer= Biogas + Fertilizer

Prior to use in biogas plants, dung was handled in the following ways:Prior to use in biogas plants, dung was handled in the following ways:

ii. Dung + Stove + Labourii. Dung + Stove + Labour = Dung (heat).= Dung (heat).

iii. Dung + Composting + Labour iii. Dung + Composting + Labour = Fertilizer.= Fertilizer.

iv. Dung + Labouriv. Dung + Labour = Dung (wastes).= Dung (wastes).

v. Dungv. Dung = Dung (nuisance).= Dung (nuisance).

vi. Dungvi. Dung = Dung (sale value).= Dung (sale value).

From the view point of an individual, sale value of compost dung will not be much different from that of air dried spent From the view point of an individual, sale value of compost dung will not be much different from that of air dried spent

slurry. With these considerations, subtracting each of equations (ii) to (vi) from (slurry. With these considerations, subtracting each of equations (ii) to (vi) from (ii), one obtains:), one obtains:

vii. Dung (heat) + Biogas plant vii. Dung (heat) + Biogas plant = Biogas + Fertilizer= Biogas + Fertilizer

viii. Biogas plant viii. Biogas plant = Biogas= Biogas

ix. Dung (waste) + Biogas plantix. Dung (waste) + Biogas plant = Biogas + Fertilizer= Biogas + Fertilizer

x. Dung (nuisance) + Biogas plant + Labour x. Dung (nuisance) + Biogas plant + Labour = Biogas + Fertilizer= Biogas + Fertilizer

xi. Dung (sale value) + Biogas plant + Labour = Biogas + Fertilizerxi. Dung (sale value) + Biogas plant + Labour = Biogas + Fertilizer

Development for ever and ever:Ecology: Ecology:

- Uses organic waste without destroying Uses organic waste without destroying

-- The methane is burnt, no harm to the atmosphere e.g., the ozone layerThe methane is burnt, no harm to the atmosphere e.g., the ozone layer

-- Preserves the physical properties of the organic matter Preserves the physical properties of the organic matter

-- Replacing firewood Replacing firewood -- lessen deforestation lessen deforestation -- a meaningful ecological measure a meaningful ecological measure

Social Balance: Social Balance: Money invested in the village, instead of the cities Money invested in the village, instead of the cities -- indirect support of the poor indirect support of the poor

Economy: Economy:

-- A biogas mean modernization of the household A biogas mean modernization of the household -- may not be profitable in a purely economical sense. may not be profitable in a purely economical sense.

-- Biogas replaces imported energy, foreign currency is savedBiogas replaces imported energy, foreign currency is saved

Justification in NRS Context:

- Electricity available in major Towns only - maximum city power availability 30-60 hours

a month

- NRS one of the most suitable places - average temperature around 20–30 degree Celsius

- About 80 % of the total dung from over 234,382 heads of cattle & buffalo can be made

available

- Assuming 10 kg fresh dung per cattle/buffalo head per day and 0.037 cum biogas/kg

fresh dung, the biogas potential stands at 0.253 million cum per year = about 0.133 million

tons of oil

- A total of 75 family size (Radius 8’3” x height 6’6”), fiberglass biogas plants, Yangon made (designed in China), installed in NRS.

Access to production resources and support services:

Production Resources: Prefabricated fibreglass dome biogas plants available in Yangon Prefabricated fibreglass dome biogas plants available in Yangon

Support Services:

-- Practical trainings on biogas operations and maintenance providedPractical trainings on biogas operations and maintenance provided

-- PostPost--installation services of biogas plants constituted an important component installation services of biogas plants constituted an important component

-- Local supplier of digester is providing maintenance of the biogas plants through FAO Local supplier of digester is providing maintenance of the biogas plants through FAO

What type of bio energy production: What type of bio energy production: -- Installed 75 prefabricated fibreglass biogas plants (biogas from cattle dung). Installed 75 prefabricated fibreglass biogas plants (biogas from cattle dung).

The facts about biogas from cow dung:The facts about biogas from cow dung:ii. . Cow dung gas is 55Cow dung gas is 55--65% methane, 3065% methane, 30--35% carbon dioxide, with some hydrogen, nitrogen and other traces 35% carbon dioxide, with some hydrogen, nitrogen and other traces --

heating value around 600 B.T.U. per cubic footheating value around 600 B.T.U. per cubic foot

ii. ii. Natural gas Natural gas -- around 80 % methane, yielding a B.T.U. value of about 1000around 80 % methane, yielding a B.T.U. value of about 1000

iii.iii.Biogas may be improved by filtering through limewater to remove carbon dioxide, iron filings to absorb Biogas may be improved by filtering through limewater to remove carbon dioxide, iron filings to absorb

corrosive hydrogen sulphide and calcium chloride to extract water vapour after the other two processescorrosive hydrogen sulphide and calcium chloride to extract water vapour after the other two processes

iv. iv. Cow dung slurry composed of 1.8Cow dung slurry composed of 1.8--2.4% N2.4% N22, 1.0, 1.0--1.2% P1.2% P22OO55, 0.6, 0.6--0.8% K0.8% K22O and 50O and 50--75% organic humus 75% organic humus

v. v. One cubic foot of gas generated from one pound of cow manure at 28One cubic foot of gas generated from one pound of cow manure at 28°°C C -- enough gas to cook a day's meals for enough gas to cook a day's meals for

44--6 people 6 people

vi. vi. 1.7 cubic metres of biogas = one litre of gasoline. 1.7 cubic metres of biogas = one litre of gasoline. vii. vii. Manure produced by one cow in one year converted to methane = over 200 litres of gasolineManure produced by one cow in one year converted to methane = over 200 litres of gasolinevii. vii. Manure produced by one cow in one year converted to methane = over 200 litres of gasolineManure produced by one cow in one year converted to methane = over 200 litres of gasoline

Organizational set up and mechanisms of participation of actors:Organizational set up and mechanisms of participation of actors:

Biogas Users’ Group (BUG): Chairman of the VPDC; 2 Village Elders from each targeted village Chairman of the VPDC; 2 Village Elders from each targeted village

tract; Field Assistant, Project Manager (National) and NC tract; Field Assistant, Project Manager (National) and NC -- Biogas member of BUG under the Biogas member of BUG under the

overall supervision of the CTA of the project and Chairman of the TPDC. overall supervision of the CTA of the project and Chairman of the TPDC.

5 Biogas Users’ Groups were formed. 5 Biogas Users’ Groups were formed.

The following major criteria were applied for the selection of beneficiaries by the The following major criteria were applied for the selection of beneficiaries by the BUGsBUGs::

-- A HH having minimum 6 cattle/buffaloes A HH having minimum 6 cattle/buffaloes

-- Women headed Women headed HHsHHs -- high priorityhigh priority-- Women headed Women headed HHsHHs -- high priorityhigh priority

-- Can contribute approximately US$ 50.00 as installation cost Can contribute approximately US$ 50.00 as installation cost

-- A HH representing different geographical location A HH representing different geographical location

Outcome in terms of livelihood improvement: i. Gender benefits: Saves approx. 4-5 hours time a day per family - reduction on time used

for collecting fuel wood, cooking and cleaning of utensils

ii. Environmental benefits: Improves indoor air quality, reduces pressure of deforestation,

bio-fertilizer improves soil structures, and reduces CO2.

iii. Health benefits: Reduces smoke exposures - improves the health condition especially eye

infection, respiratory diseases, cough and headache

iv. Economic benefits: Reduces almost 90 % expenses on fuel. Bio-fertilizer = high yield of

crop and vegetables crop and vegetables

Income from the sale of the processed derivativesCurrently,

Biogas effluent used for composting or for direct application as manure, and

Reformation of saline-alkali soil in small scale as demonstration. Initial response

good, however, effect of reforming soil can be shown in two or three years after

the spread of biogas manure.

Research findings indicate:

1. Pond fish raising with biogas effluent give better productive efficiency than that

of pond fish raising by manure directly

2. Biogas effluent improve water quality, increase the amount of dissolved oxygen 2. Biogas effluent improve water quality, increase the amount of dissolved oxygen

and ammonium nitrogen and reduce CO2, parasites and fish diseases