Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) announced farmers continued to use renewable energy

Biogas a source of renewable energy and natural fertilizer!


By Esubalew Dires

Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) announced over 2,500 rural families have started to benefit from an alternative power supply (biogas). ORDA funded a 2.3 million birr from Power Africa in collaboration with the regional biogas coordination unit and the community installed more than 470 biogas that worth a total of 7.5 million birr in Alefa woreda, Ato Mequanint Dagnew, Protection and sustainable management of forests in West Amhara project manager, said.

Ato Mequanint asserted alternative and renewable energy is vital to sustainably preserve the declining natural forest cover of West Amhara. The project played a significant role benefiting over 470 HHs in one of the intervention woredas. Biogas replaced the use of firewood for cooking and lighting by reducing the cutting down of trees for fuel use.

                                                Biogas5

Farmer Yismaw Zemene, a resident at Tara Kozen kebele Birgie village, is one of the project beneficiaries in Alefa woreda. He used biogas energy for the last 6 consecutive months. While comparing with his previous life, the farmer stated since the day they started using biogas they no longer buy petroleum and it also highly reduced firewood for cooking. He said, “We used to buy petroleum for light and collect much more firewood for cooking. But, we always get light & cook some food items using the biogas.”

His wife, W/ro Yemikir Molla on her side stated her eyes health status is improved, the time and energy which they waste for cooking is greatly reduced after biogas is planted around her home.

ORDA gives due attention for conservation and development of natural resources. Hence, alternative energy sources are extensively carried out to combat climate change impacts. The attitude of beneficiaries is being advanced through time. 

                                                 biogas (3)

The project has assisted 471smallholder agriculturalists by planting biogas around their residents. Beneficiaries are using a renewable, clean and safe energy options mixing cow dung with pure water and connecting it with toilets. Besides energy options, it is a source for compost preparation to improve productivity of crops.

It is to be noted that beyond delineation and protection of natural forest covers, ORDA has planted 4.3 million seedlings over 1,300 hectares of degraded areas.

Copyright © 2012 ORDA Ethiopia.
All Rights Reserved.