Improved Cooking Stove
(ICS) Program:
In Bangladesh about 70% population live
in rural areas who mostly use fire wood, straw, twigs, leaves, rice husks, jute
stick and other agricultural residues as fuels for cooking purpose which is
about 39 million tons in total -- 83% of the total energy consumption of the
country. Only 4% of the populations use natural gas for cooking purpose in the
semi-urban and urban areas. According to environmentalist, we should have 25%
land area as forest but actually we do have only 17.08% (source: http://ulterious.com) forests areas. Using the traditional
system of cooking, the fire woods are depleting day by day. Traditional stove
also emits smoke, which affects the health of the users especially cooks and
make the kitchen dirty.
The use of traditional fuel is increasing day by
day as population is growing with uneven pace which also assert a situation
that using traditional system of cooking also indicate that low efficiency of
traditional stove because fame of fire does not burn completely, appreciable
quantities of irritants, contaminant and carcinogens are released in the
kitchen environment and these pose a major threat to the respiratory system of
the users. Considering these facts, it is necessary to give up the use of traditional
fuel to protect vegetation.
Improved cooking stove can mitigate this
situation though it is not the full solution but considering economic and
health aspects it can work, instead of traditional biomass cook stove.
In the year 2009, RDF with the assistance of GIZ
& in the year 2010
IDCOL introduced Improved Cooking Stove (ICS) which is environment friendly and
safe for the users. Among many other advantages, ICS also saves 20%-30% of fuel
for cooking purpose. With the assistance of GIZ; RDF installed 26,410 Nos. of
ICS for 1,05,640 individual
beneficiaries.
Till April 2017, RDF installed 61,952 Nos. of ICS covering 5 districts, 13
upazillas in Bangladesh with assistance by IDCOL for 2,16,832
individual beneficiaries.
Benefits of
ICS use in Rural Households:
·
ICS reduces smoke emission and health hazards especially
·
It makes air pollution free environment.
·
Improved Cooking Stove saves 50% fuels compared to traditional ones.
·
Considering chimney stove, flue gases are also taken out of the kitchen
so that the kitchen becomes more comfortable for the cook and ensure hygiene
factor
·
Save cooking time and ensuring testy food
·
Less blackening of the utensils
·
Saving of fuels and portable stove can be shifted easily during rainy
season
·
This system reduces cost of wooden fuel.
·
It is good for mother and child health.
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