Page 5 - Selecting the Appropriate Improved Cooking Technology: What Matters?
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POLICY MESSAGE The framework must also be guided by the expected
outcomes of the improved cookstoves programme
The cost of cookstove models selected for dissemination must match with the paying that may range from household health benefits to
capacities of different income segments of potential end users. An inevitable trade- environment protection.
off will have to be made between performance and cost of the cookstove model. 2. Multiple localized pilot deployment of cookstove
technologies: Deductive selection of appropriate
to establish a system for after-sales service to end-users. cooking technology allows for evidence-based
In such case, these cookstoves go into disuse, leading to decision-making and reduces biases in selection.
failure of the cookstoves programme in the long term. Localized deployment of diverse technology types
The problem is much more acute in the case of advanced helps take into account contextual factors that
cookstoves with have specialized components that are influence the adoption of a cookstove technology.
not freely available in the market, or complex technology This approach will help democratize cookstove
that requires technical skills to repair. This problem selection on the basis of end-user feedback, as
was witnessed in the previous improved cookstoves opposed to a top-down selection of technology.
programme of the Indian government, namely the 3. Reliable monitoring of improved cookstove
National Programme for Improved Cookstoves. In this adoption: Evaluation of the suitability of improved
programme, while a large number of improved cookstoves cooking technology requires a close and accurate
were disseminated, non-repair of broken masonry parts monitoring of cookstove usage across seasons.
of the cookstove led to eventual failure of the programme Novel methods for tracking stove usage such as
as a whole.15 The National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative, mobile-based cookstove thermal sensors are being
in its present form, does not account for after-sales service increasingly used for usage monitoring. Subjective
in its larger plan for improved cookstoves deployment. data based on observation or self-reported usage can
lead to erroneous judgement of cookstove usage.
Recommendations 4. Developing a robust feedback mechanism for
manufacturers: Feedback on technology received
1. Developing an integrated framework for from the end-users must guide the technology
technology selection: As discussed in this development process. At present, there is no
discussion paper, adoption of an improved cookstove system or means to share end-user feedback with
technology is influenced by various contextual factors improved cookstove manufacturers. User feedback
over and above technical performance. The current from pilot deployment and results of adoption
method of selecting technology by virtue of its studies must be shared with manufacturers to
technical performance must be upgraded to a more help them design technology that matches
comprehensive and multi-criteria framework that end-users’ requirements.
incorporates local factors like cooking pattern, type
of fuel used, paying capacity, and market support.
15 Sinha, Bhaskar. 2002. “The Indian stove programme: An insider’s view—the role of society,
politics, economics and education.” Boiling Point 48: 23–26.
outcomes of the improved cookstoves programme
The cost of cookstove models selected for dissemination must match with the paying that may range from household health benefits to
capacities of different income segments of potential end users. An inevitable trade- environment protection.
off will have to be made between performance and cost of the cookstove model. 2. Multiple localized pilot deployment of cookstove
technologies: Deductive selection of appropriate
to establish a system for after-sales service to end-users. cooking technology allows for evidence-based
In such case, these cookstoves go into disuse, leading to decision-making and reduces biases in selection.
failure of the cookstoves programme in the long term. Localized deployment of diverse technology types
The problem is much more acute in the case of advanced helps take into account contextual factors that
cookstoves with have specialized components that are influence the adoption of a cookstove technology.
not freely available in the market, or complex technology This approach will help democratize cookstove
that requires technical skills to repair. This problem selection on the basis of end-user feedback, as
was witnessed in the previous improved cookstoves opposed to a top-down selection of technology.
programme of the Indian government, namely the 3. Reliable monitoring of improved cookstove
National Programme for Improved Cookstoves. In this adoption: Evaluation of the suitability of improved
programme, while a large number of improved cookstoves cooking technology requires a close and accurate
were disseminated, non-repair of broken masonry parts monitoring of cookstove usage across seasons.
of the cookstove led to eventual failure of the programme Novel methods for tracking stove usage such as
as a whole.15 The National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative, mobile-based cookstove thermal sensors are being
in its present form, does not account for after-sales service increasingly used for usage monitoring. Subjective
in its larger plan for improved cookstoves deployment. data based on observation or self-reported usage can
lead to erroneous judgement of cookstove usage.
Recommendations 4. Developing a robust feedback mechanism for
manufacturers: Feedback on technology received
1. Developing an integrated framework for from the end-users must guide the technology
technology selection: As discussed in this development process. At present, there is no
discussion paper, adoption of an improved cookstove system or means to share end-user feedback with
technology is influenced by various contextual factors improved cookstove manufacturers. User feedback
over and above technical performance. The current from pilot deployment and results of adoption
method of selecting technology by virtue of its studies must be shared with manufacturers to
technical performance must be upgraded to a more help them design technology that matches
comprehensive and multi-criteria framework that end-users’ requirements.
incorporates local factors like cooking pattern, type
of fuel used, paying capacity, and market support.
15 Sinha, Bhaskar. 2002. “The Indian stove programme: An insider’s view—the role of society,
politics, economics and education.” Boiling Point 48: 23–26.
