Biogas Cooking on the Rise in Sherpur as Eco-Friendly Fuel Gains Popularity

The use of biogas as an alternative fuel is increasing in Sherpur. Many village families are using this environment-friendly gas for cooking. It is made from cow dung and poultry waste. This helps people use waste properly and reduce household fuel costs. Biogas is becoming more popular in Nanni Union of Nalitabari Upazila because it is both affordable and environment-friendly.

According to the District Department of Youth Development , Abul Kalam Azad, 45, lives in Dekrapara village of Nanni. He has six cows. He makes biogas every day by processing cow dung. The gas he produces is used for cooking by two families. They have been using this facility for the past six months. As a result, they save around Tk 4,000 in fuel costs every month.

Local resident Nazrul Islam said that using biogas does not create any extra trouble. Besides providing cooking fuel, the waste left after gas production can be used as organic fertiliser in fields. This reduces fuel costs and also benefits farming and the environment.

Khokon Mia, a madrasa teacher in Nanni, also uses biogas made from the dung of his three cows for cooking at home. He said that earlier, his family depended on firewood and cylinder gas. They spent Tk 2,000 a month to buy cylinder gas. Now, they save this money by using biogas. Cooking also takes less time. He estimates that his family saves around Tk 25,000 a year.

Local people said that the success of one person is encouraging others to use biogas. At present, around 50 families in Nanni Union are using this fuel.

Abdullah Al Mansur, assistant engineer of the Biogas Plant Project under the Department of Youth Development , said that three cows can produce around 40 to 50 kilograms of dung every day. Processing 22 kilograms of dung can produce about one kilogram of gas. This amount of gas can meet the daily cooking needs of one family.

The Department of Youth Development  is carrying out the ‘Impact Project Phase-3’ to increase the use of alternative fuel in rural areas. Under this project, work is underway to set up 85 biogas plants in five upazilas of Sherpur district. Of these, 30 plants have already been set up in Nanni Union of Nalitabari. Considering this success, there is also a plan to declare Nanni Union a ‘Biogas Village’.

Harunur Rashid, deputy director of the Sherpur District Department of Youth Development , told Daily Inqilab that the initiative was taken as part of the government’s plan to make the rural economy more self-reliant and increase the use of alternative fuel. If the project is completed successfully, biogas will play an important role in meeting the fuel needs of rural families.