Determinants and effect of adoption of small scale biogas technology by rural households: the case of Sodo Zuria district, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess determinants and effect of adoption of small scale biogas technology by rural households in Sodo Zuria district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. The population in selected three sample Kebeles were stratified into two categories (biogas user and non-user). A total of 153 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed by using interviewed schedule. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics (chi-square and independent ttest) and binary logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Logit model was used to analyze the adoption decision of biogas technology. The model result indicated that adopters and non-adopters differed in 6 out of 12 explanatory variables expected to influence the adoption of Biogas technology in the study area. Variables such as sex, education of respondents, livestock ownership, occupation, and attending training of respondents with biogas development had significant and positive influence on the use of biogas technology. On the other hand, distance to water had significant negative effect on the use of biogas technology. High installation cost (55%), negative attitude of community towards biogas energy (8%), inadequate skilled technicians (25%), lack of adequate fund, lack of interest, and poor infrastructure (10%) were the main challenges of using biogas technology. Biogas technology gives high contribution for the users especially in reduction of expenditure on cooking energy, saving time in preparation and cooking of food, provision of organic bio slurry, reduction of smoke in the kitchen, and making cooking more convenient 79%, 70%, 88%, and 95%respectively. The study suggests government and non-governmental organizations to strengthen farmers’ capacity and make them to focus on construction of new biogas technology in order to expand its benefits in the study area.