How clean stoves reduced use of charcoal in Kondoa District

Dodoma.  “In my business, one bucket of charcoal lasts three days with these improved stoves, while the old metal stoves consumed the same amount in just one day,” says Dosa Manaa, a food vendor from Kolo Village in Kondoa District.

She makes the remarks reflecting on her decision to transition from traditional metal stoves to clay ones in 2018.

“The old stoves require a continuous supply of charcoal to maintain their heat. In contrast, the new clay stoves retain heat so effectively that even after removing the hot charcoal, they continue to cook,” she explains.

She recounts a particular instance of cooking rice: after placing it on the stove, she removed the charcoal, and the rice continued to cook perfectly.

While showcasing her three large, efficient clay stoves, Ms Manaa emphasises how this innovation has significantly reduced her charcoal consumption, lowering her daily expenses from Sh2,000 to Sh700.

Remarkably, she didn’t have to travel far to acquire these stoves; they are readily available in her own village, Kolo Village, where a group of innovators known as the Asili Group operates.

About the Asili Group

Upon entering a three-room house still under construction, one finds sandbags filled with clay alongside a large stone used for grinding flour.

Beyond these materials lie an array of colourful clay products, including pots, frying pans, and the improved stoves.

This vibrant display sparks curiosity about the machinery behind their creation and the artisans responsible for them.

The work is primarily carried out by women with basic education who have banded together to form the Asili Group.

The group’s chairperson, Ms Hawa Chora, explains that they established the group in 2012 and registered it in 2019, starting with six initial members.

“We aimed to help women access stoves that reduce charcoal usage, thereby lowering energy costs and mitigating deforestation,” she explains.

Ms Chora recounts how the idea to form the group emerged during discussions with Ms Aisha Bwitu, the group’s secretary, about leveraging government support for production groups.

As a result of these discussions, the group’s membership expanded to 19, including one man.

“Initially, we focused on a tree-planting project, but we later decided to enhance our innovation by creating these efficient stoves,” she clarifies.

They began sourcing clay from the neighbouring Mnenia village, where a man assists them in extracting and transporting the clay using donkeys.

Ms Chora notes that the price of the stoves ranges from Sh2,000 to Sh5,000.

 The crafting process

Group member Ms Jaha Imeda explains that upon bringing the clay to their workshop, they grind it with a stone and soak it in water. After mixing the clay to achieve the right consistency, they shape it into cook stoves and pierce a hole in the centre for airflow.

“We let them dry before firing them in a kiln to enhance durability. We still use firewood for firing. Once ready, the stoves change colour,” she elaborates.

On a good day, they can produce up to 20 stoves if they start early, though production levels largely depend on demand.

Challenges faced

Despite their achievements, the group faces challenges. A member, Ms Salama Sachu, highlights that, even though they have successfully built an office, transporting clay from eight kilometres away poses a significant difficulty, relying on donkeys for transport.

Furthermore, the lack of modern equipment for stove production means they must rely on manual labour, leading to production delays and decreased efficiency.

“We urge the government to assist us with equipment that would enable us to produce these cookstoves in larger quantities and within shorter timeframes,” Ms Salama appeals.

Broader impact and innovations

Ms Bwitu underscores their mission: to encourage the community to adopt improved stoves that lower living costs and lessen environmental impact.

“These stoves consume less charcoal,” she notes, thereby saving money and reducing tree cutting. This innovation also helps streamline cooking time.

Regarding the durability of the stoves, Ms Manaa expresses that longevity depends on maintenance, yet she expects them to last at least three years amidst her busy business operations.

She advocates for others to embrace these stoves, emphasising their role in reducing charcoal costs while conserving the environment.

Tumaini Group

In another group, Tumaini Group, located in Kondoa town, crafts improved stoves that differ from metal and iron stoves.

Ms Shabani Mazige, a craftsman from this group, explains, “Improved stoves consume only 50 percent of the charcoal required by traditional metal and iron stoves, thanks to the heat-retaining properties of clay.”

He elaborates that the higher price range of their stoves, between Sh7,000 and Sh20,000, reflects the lengthy production process, which is more intricate compared to metal stoves.

The Tumaini Group incorporates metal around the clay for added durability, noting that this complex manufacturing process requires thorough preparation before moulding and firing in a kiln, unlike metal stoves, which can be produced more quickly.

Despite their capacity to produce about 50 stoves a month, this output falls short of market demand.

Ms Mazige highlights that their products are marketed in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and neighbouring Kenya, where traders procure them for resale.

“The goal is to promote the use of improved stoves and ramp up production to curtail forest consumption. Ideally, every region should have producers of these cook stoves,” he emphasises.

He encourages Tanzanians to continue utilising these cook stoves to reduce excessive reliance on trees for charcoal.

Government support and future initiatives

Dodoma Regional Commissioner Rosemary Senyamule reaffirms the government’s commitment to supporting producers and distributors of clean cooking energy technologies.

This initiative aims to diminish reliance on charcoal and firewood, particularly in rural areas.

“This effort seeks to alleviate environmental and health impacts while expanding access to affordable cook stoves,” she says.

The Director of the Rural Energy Agency (REA), Advera Mwijage, adds that these stoves not only lower user costs but also protect the environment by reducing indiscriminate tree cutting.

Both officials made their remarks during the distribution of 114 improved cook stoves utilising clean energy to residents of Zanka and Kigwe villages in Bahi district.

This article has been sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.