How smart stoves, eco-friendly fuel have transformed Mwanza kitchens

Mwanza. The choking fumes from traditional firewood stoves once clouded the kitchens of many schools in Mwanza, but today, an innovation has brought new hope.

"I remember visiting a school and witnessing cooks take turns rushing in and out of the kitchen, unable to stay long due to the intense smoke. This left a deep impact on me," says Bernard Makachia, an innovator from Mwanza.

His encounter with these cooks led him to create a solution that is transforming the cooking landscape in Tanzania.

Makachia, the Community Development professional, is the mind behind JikoSMART, an eco-friendly cooking stove designed to reduce reliance on traditional firewood.

His journey began when he saw firsthand the detrimental health effects of smoke on school cooks, including respiratory problems and even job resignations.

"One cook told me she had to quit because of a persistent cough, which she believed was caused by the smoke," Makachia recalls.

This experience fuelled his resolve to find a better way.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Driven by the challenges of smoke-filled kitchens and the environmental toll of deforestation, Makachia set out to develop an alternative.

In 2019, he began experimenting with different types of fuel at his factory in Katumba Village, Kisesa Ward, Magu District, Mwanza Region.

His initial attempts involved using cardboard to make charcoal, but this approach proved inefficient and still harmful to the environment.

Realising he needed a more sustainable solution, Makachia shifted his focus to readily available plant residues such as sawdust, rice husks, coffee husks, and sugarcane waste.

These raw materials led to the creation of "KuniSMART," a type of fuel that burns more cleanly and efficiently than traditional firewood.

"When I tested it, the fire was strong, and best of all, there was no smoke," he explains.

KuniSMART, as Makachia named it, is now a cornerstone of his clean cooking solution.

The alternative firewood is not only eco-friendly but also more accessible and affordable for communities across the country.

Expanding the innovation

While the development of KuniSMART was a breakthrough, Makachia realised that to truly eliminate the reliance on traditional firewood and charcoal, an improved stove was needed. In 2022, he introduced JikoSMART, a stove specifically designed to maximise the efficiency of KuniSMART.

Using locally sourced materials, the stove is equipped with a fan that can be powered by electricity or solar energy, allowing users to control the fire’s intensity. "A simple phone charger is all it takes to power the fan," says Makachia.

"The fan increases the fire’s intensity, cooking food faster without any smoke," he said.

This design not only saves time but also reduces the cost of cooking. For instance, one kilogramme of KuniSMART, which costs just Sh500, is enough to cook for 10 to 15 people, a significant savings compared to the Sh3,000 typically spent on regular firewood or charcoal to cook for the same number of people.

Real-world impact

A cook at Vision Nursery School in Misungwi District, Scholastica Joseph, has experienced the benefits of JikoSMART firsthand.

"Before, it would take me up to four hours to cook meals for 60 students. Now, with the new stove and KuniSMART, I’m done in just one hour," she says. Scholastica no longer battles with smoke, and the time saved allows her to focus on other tasks. Makachia's innovation is already making a difference in Mwanza.

More than 15 schools have adopted JikoSMART, and the results are promising.

Schools have reported a reduction in firewood costs, from Sh1.2 million per month to Sh800,000. Encouraged by this success, Makachia is campaigning to bring the technology to more institutions, both public and private, to further reduce the country's reliance on traditional firewood.

Scaling up and creating jobs

Makachia's efforts have not gone unnoticed. He was one of the top 10 winners in the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge.

This is an achievement that secured him a contract to produce 300 stoves for distribution to small-scale business owners and families still dependent on harmful cooking methods.

These stoves, set to be completed by the end of October, will be distributed for free to those in need, particularly street vendors and households near Makachia's factory in Magu District.

In addition to improving lives, the innovation has also created jobs. Makachia employs five full-time employees and over 10 others who collect raw materials.

With plans to install a larger production machine in November, he expects to hire an additional 20 young people, providing much-needed employment in the region.

Health and environmental benefits

The impact of JikoSMART and KuniSMART extends beyond financial savings and job creation. Health improvements have been significant. Scholastica, like many cooks who previously used traditional firewood, suffered from frequent respiratory issues.

"There were times I couldn't go to work because of the constant coughing and chest pain. But now, I feel healthier and more productive," she says.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 4.3 million people die annually due to indoor air pollution caused by the use of firewood and charcoal.

The head of the Cancer Department at Bugando Referral Hospital, Dr Nestory Masalu, echoes this concern, noting that smoke from traditional cooking methods is a major contributor to lung cancer.

"The use of firewood in enclosed spaces exposes people to harmful smoke, which can lead to severe lung damage, including cancer," he explains.

Makachia's innovation offers a path forward, addressing not only the health risks associated with traditional cooking but also the environmental threat posed by deforestation.

With continued support and wider adoption, JikoSMART and KuniSMART could play a key role in reducing Tanzania's dependence on firewood and charcoal, leading to a cleaner, healthier future.

This article is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation