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Inventory of Innovative Indoor Smoke
Alleviating Technologies in Nepal
Information of various organisations involved in promotion/
dissemination of mud-brick ICS is given in Annex 1.
Suitability of different models of stoves depends on
geographical areas and climatic conditions. Therefore,
efforts must be made to match the specific needs of
geographically diverse group of people. From the above
findings, it can be concluded that the raised two potholes
stove with grate are more suitable in mid hill regions of
Nepal as it is neither too hot nor too cold. Acceptance of
two potholes stoves with grate in the combustion chamber
are high in Terai as people burn substantial amount of
agricultural residues. Single pothole and rocket type mud-
brick stove is also suitable in Terai. However, design
adaptation is necessary for Terai because majority of
houses have thin walls and thatched roofs.
In general, the dissemination of mud-brick ICS is very
successful due to the following reasons:
i Government and donor support for raising awareness,
training, demonstration and programme
implementation
ii Training provision to the promoter and demonstration
on advantage of chimney and ICS as a whole
iii Acceptability in a typical kitchen of a rural HH
iv Flexibility to construct in various forms (one, two or
three potholes) and sizes according to the user’s
preference
v Local artisan or trained personnel can construct ICS
using locally available material
vi Active participation of local NGOs, CBOs, VDCs and
LPO for dissemination
vii Low construction cost (NRs. 150 to 250), easy
construction, operation and maintenance
viii More efficient (12 to 20 per cent) compared to
traditional stoves (6 to 12 per cent),
ix Reduction of IAP, which ultimately reduces eye
irritation, ARI, COPD, infant mortality and other
diseases
x Reduction of deforestation through efficient use of
fuel wood (25 to 40 per cent fuel saving compared
to traditional stoves), and
xi Reduction in cooking time (0.5 to 1 hour per day) as
two items can be cooked at a time
However, there are still some difficulties in the effective
implementation of ICS due to various reasons such as:
i Health risk associated with IAP, fuel and time saving
is not a priority for users due to lack of awareness
ii Beliefs in reducing the pest and termite effects from
smoke
iii Inconvenient to use large pots (unsuitable for agro-
processing and alcohol brewing)
iv Requirement of different design for different climatic
and geographical regions. For instance, unsuitability
of mud stove for space heating in cold regions
v Tunnel, baffle, fuel exit hole, chimney height and
pot rings are not well maintained by users resulting
to increase in IAP
vi In some rural HHs, kitchens are either in the attic or
first floor and in some Rai communities, stoves are
constructed in the middle of a kitchen (or aangan),
making it difficult to construct a chimney
vii The promoted ICSs are different than the traditional
stoves which sometimes faces adoption problem due
to discomfort while using it
viii Most of the programmes are executed on project
based approach rather than market based approach
so commercialisation of the product is rare
ix Lack of coordination among promoters
x Migration of trained promoters, especially for women
due to remoteness of villages
xi Lack of adequate monitoring of ICS use and its
performance
3.3 Metal stoves
The major advantages of the HH metal stoves are smoke
alleviation/reduction and fuel saving which ultimately
reduces biomass consumption through efficient
combustion. On the contrary, it is time consuming to
prepare small and consistent fuel woods as small pieces
dry faster compared to big sized fuel woods which leads
to better combustion. The efficiency of metal stoves is 18
to 32 per cent higher compared to traditional and improved
mud stove. The reasons for variation in efficiency are
deviation in construction of stove from design, type and
moisture content of fuel, various types of metal stoves
disseminated in Nepal are discussed below: