The Role of Biogas for Sustainable Development in Nepal: A Case Study of Niglihawa VDC of Kapilvastu District

Abstract

Development is the process of developing or being developed. It means that positive changes are regarded as development. Sustainable development is a pattern of resources use in such a way that present needs can be met without destroying the ability for the future generations to meet their needs. Hence, sustainable development comprises of environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability. Furthermore, energy is an essential ingredient of socio-economic development. Renewable energy is energy that comes from resources which are continually replenished such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Reliable and sustainable supply of energy is the basic needs of the people for meaningful life including cooking, lighting and economic activities. Furthermore, renewable energy technologies (RETs) such as biogas, solar and micro-hydro are widely promoted in Nepal and biogas only considered for this study. The major objective of this study is to examine role of biogas for sustainable development in Nepal based on a case study of Niglihawa VDC of Kapilvastu district. Its specific objectives are: 1) to analyze the role of biogas for quality of life through livelihood enhancement by improving health & hygiene and developing micro-enterprises; 2) to examine the role of biogas for protecting environment through forest conservation and pollution reduction; and 3) to evaluate the role of biogas for cultural development in the context of Nepal. In order to conduct this study, descriptive cum analytical research design has been employed. This study has based on both primary and secondary data. This study has used cross-sectional secondary data at National level of Nepalese biogas sector for the period of 1992/93 to 2012/13. Likewise, the primary data have collected by using structured questionnaire to get opinion of biogas users. Sixteen household out of twenty two users have been selected randomly for the study at Niglihawa-6 of Kapilvastu district. The data has edited, tabulated and analyzed through applied statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 which facilitates the process of data analysis in a more precise and appropriate way. Moreover, the simple statistical techniques of analysis such as table, percentage, graphs, and correlation coefficient (r) have been employed to a number of cases in this study. v

Likewise, White's formula has used in this study to assess the role of biogas for cultural development. The study suggests existence of the role of biogas for sustainable development by determining its role for quality of life, protecting environment, and cultural development. Based on the analysis of the primary and secondary data, the results revealed these three conclusions. First, biogas plays important role for quality of life through improving health and sanitation, creating enterprises and employment, utilizing bio-slurry as feed and fertilizer. Second, biogas contributes for protecting environment in relation to forest conservation and reduction of pollution. Finally, biogas plays important role for social and cultural development. The results have shown that the biogas plays positive role for cultural changes in cooking practices, use of toilet, and the role of women in social activities. Based on White’s model using national data, the results show that cultural development moves in the same direction with total plants installed over the year as the correlation coefficient (r) between two is 0.81. There is very high degree of positive correlation between these two variables. It means if total plants increase then the degree of cultural development also increases and vice versa. Hence, biogas plays an essential role for the economic and social development as well as protecting environment that contributes for sustainable development in one way or another.