Determinants of functional status of family size bio-digesters: empirical evidence from southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study is to investigate factors that determine the functionality of bio-digesters in southern Ethiopia. Data were collected through personal interview of adopter households using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Results indicated the proportion of the functional status of digesters was ‘never operate’ (17.9%), ‘poor’ (19.4%), ‘fair’ (18.6%), ‘good’ (17.2%) and ‘excellent’ (26.9%). Sex of household head, household total income, institutional technical follow-up and support, and level of satisfaction with the biogas programme service significantly and positively influence the functionality of bio-digesters. Whereas, distance from residence to water source and to the nearest market for appliances significantly and negatively influence the functionality of digesters. Advances in these perspectives could improve the functionality of bio-digesters, the reputation of biogas technology among members of communities as well as help ensuring a sustainable energy security in rural Ethiopia.

KEYWORDS:

• Bio-digester
• functional status
• biogas technology
• rural energy
• ordered logit model
• southern Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

We give great appreciation to all respondent households, group discussants and key informants who provided valuable information. We also offer due respect to all organisations and their staff for providing helpful data. Particularly, we would like to thank the following organisations: South Region Biogas Program Coordination Units, Sodo District Energy and Mines Office, District Agriculture and Rural Development Office, District Administration Office, and Kebele Administrations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Dega refers to a highland agro-climatic zone.

2 Weina dega denotes a mid-altitude agro-climatic region.

3 Kola refers to a low-altitude agro-climatic zone.

4 Kebele is an equivalent with lowest administrative units.

5 Birr is a basic monetary unit in Ethiopia (1 USD is equivalent to 23.37 Birr in May 2017, at time of data collection).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by a Research and Capacity Building in Clean and Renewable Bioenergy in Ethiopia (NMBU-Hawassa- Mekelle), NMBU Project # 3207010021, an institutional collaboration project between the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway, and Hawassa and Mekelle Universities, Ethiopia.