Livestock Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes Toward Biogas Plant in Bangladesh

Abstract

Target group participation in planning is a key factor to set up strategies to disseminate any technology. The present study was conducted to know the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of livestock farmers’ about biogas plant and compare it with people who are not involved in livestock farming activities. The study was conducted in 25 villages from 3 districts of Bangladesh. Total number of participant was 320, among them farmers with biogas plant were 80, farmers without biogas plant were 80, and non farmers were 160. People making at least 25% of their total income from livestock farming activities was considered as farmer. Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions about energy sources, raw materials of biogas and environmental impact of biogas were judged with dichotomous type of questions, and their attitudes about biogas was judged by a likert chart type question having 1 to 5 scale where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree. All the survey was conducted by visiting the farm and data was collected directly talking with the farm owner or with the respondent. Among the renewable energy, biogas and solar were well known to respondent compared to wind and water sources. All three non-renewable sources like fossil oil, coal, and natural gas were well known to the respondent. Among the five raw materials for biogas production, cow dung was well known as feeding materials to both livestock farmer and non farmers. 100% farmer and 75% non farmer were aware about cow dung. All the respondent with biogas plant has agreed that biogas could effectively control the odor of cow dung and poultry litter, and could provide a smokeless cooking environment. All farmers with biogas plant (100%) strongly agreed that biogas is good for their family and for the country and they will support and encourage others to built biogas plant. In conclusion, Bangladesh has a bright future for biogas technology because it has huge raw materials mainly cow dung and poultry litter and farmers have very positive attitudes towards biogas technology

Keywords

• Livestock farmer; Biogas plant; Knowledge; Perception; Attitude

References

1. M. Asaduzzaman, “Livestock sector, economic development and poverty alleviation in Bangladesh”, in: M. A. S. Mandal (Eds.), Changing rural economy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economic Association, Dhaka, pp. 42–53. 2000.
2. A. Omore, J.C. Mulindo, S.M.F. Islam, G. Nurah, M.I. Khan, S.J. Staal, B.T. Dugdill, “Employment generation through small-scale dairy marketing and processing: experiences from Kenya, Bangladesh and Ghana”, (FAO, Rome, Italy). 2002.
3. Anon, “Department of livestock services- an economic review”, Department of livestock services, Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2005.
4. BBS, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Dhaka, 2004.
5. FAO, “Livestock and Major threat to the environment: remedies http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/10000448/i ndex.html, 2006. needed”, FAO Rome.
6. J.M. Chah, E.M. Igbokwe, “Contribution of Livestock Production to Climate Change and Mitigation Options: A Review”, Journal of Agricultural Extension, Vol. 16 pp. 133. 2012.
7. S. Wulf, P. Jager, H. Dohler, “Balancing of greenhouse gas emissions and economic efficiency for biogas- production through anaerobic co-fermentation of slurry with organic waste”, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol. 112 pp. 178–185. 2012.
8. A. Y. Mahamat, R. Gourdon, P. Leger, P. Vermande, “Methane recovery by anaerobic digestion of cellulosic materials available in Sahel”, Biological Wastes, Vol. 30 pp. 181–97. 1989.

9. W. Parawira, “Anaerobic treatment of agricultural residues and wastewater: Application of high-rate reactors”. Doctoral thesis. Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Sweden, 2004.
10. J.H. Martin, “A comparison of dairy cattle manure management with and without anaerobic digestion and biogas utilization”, Boston, MA: Eastern Research Group, Inc., www.epa.gov/agstar/pdf/nydairy2003, 2004.
11. J. DeBruyn, D. Hilborn, “Anaerobic digestion basics”, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Fact Sheet Order No. 07e057, 2007.
12. W. F. Lazarus, M. Rudstrom, “The economics of anaerobic digester operation on a Minnesota dairy farm”, Rev Agr Econ, Vol. 29. pp. 349-364. 2007.
13. A.D. Cuéllar, M.E. Webber, “Cow power: the energy and emissions benefits of converting manure to biogas”, Environ Res Lett. Vol. 3 article. 034002. 2008.
14. M.A.H. Mondal, M. Denich, “Hybrid systems for decentralized power generation in Bangladesh”, Energy for Sustainable Development, Vol. 14. pp. 48–55. 2010.
15. M.A.R. Sarkar, M. Ehsan, M.A. Islam, “Issues relating to energy conservation and renewable energy in Bangladesh”, Energy for Sustainable Development, Vol. pp. 77–87. 2003.
16. H. Ahmed, K.M. Bahauddin, “Prospect and Potential of Biogas Energy and Its Technology: A Sustainable Clean Energy Future of Bangladesh”, International Journal of Advanced Renewable Energy Research, Vol. 1 pp. 313-322. 2012.
17. PSMP, “Power sector master plan update”, Power Cell, Power Division. Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2005.
18. BLS, “Report on The Bangladesh Literacy Survey, Industry and Labour Wing”, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, 2010.
19. Biswas, K. Wahidul, B. Paul, and M. Diesendorf. "Model for empowering rural poor through renewable energy technologies in Science & Policy. Vol. 4. pp. 333-344. 2001.
20. Bangladesh."Environmental P. Viswanath, S.S. Devi, K. “Nand, Anaerobic digestion of fruit and vegetable processing wastes for biogas production”, Bioresource Technology. Vol 40. pp. 48. 1992.
21. M. D. Miah, A. R. Harun, M. Y. Shin. "Wood fuel use in the traditional cooking stoves in the rural floodplain areas of Bangladesh: a socio-environmental perspective." Biomass and Bioenergy. Vol. 33. pp. 70-78.