Biogas plants for small farms in Kenya

Abstract

This paper reports on the authors' efforts to improve the small farm community welfare in Kenya by promoting biogas technology. The survey showed that fuel was used in Kenyan farms mainly for cooking and lighting, and wood, crop residue, and charcoal were the predominant fuel sources. Mostly women collected firewood, fetched water, and cooked. Building a fire with these fuels was time-consuming, and smoke from these fires was damaging to the living environment. Hence, applying biogas technology to Kenyan small farms not only guarantees a reliable, renewable energy source, but also provides other benefits, such as cleaner household environments, better working conditions for housewives,