[Stoves] Development and Dissemination in Sri Lanka: the Anagi Story (IDEA)

[Tom Miles]

Link to the story and pictures at: 

http://bioenergylists.org/en/srilankaanagi

Commercialised stove production in Sri Lanka - 300000 stoves a year - A
success story.

By R.M.Amerasekera Executive Director IDEA 

Since the inception of improved cook stove(ICS) program in Sri Lanka in
early 1970s it has gone through several stages during its long journey. The
period can be broadly divided into three phases of development.

(1) Design and testing phase 1970-1985 

(2)Promotion & dissemination 1985-1991 

(3)Commercialisation phase 1991-2005. 

During this period of development, several stakeholders from government and
non-government organisations participated, and the objectives changed from a
narrow focus on firewood conservation to a more integrated-development
approach. The present design is an one piece two-pot clay stove, which can
be used alone or with a mud-insulated covering as desired by the user
according to its needs. About 750000 stoves have been disseminated during
the subsidised phase from 1985 - 1991 with the support of the government and
several donor agencies mainly the DGIS (Royal Netherlands Government). The
stove promoted during this phase, which was a two pot mud insulated with a
pottery liner required a skilled stove-installer. It was developed by the
"Sarvodaya", a leading NGO. It turned out, however, that it was difficult to
promote a heavy mass stove as a marketable product. That is why this model
was later modified into a twopot single piece clay stove, which is the
present stove called "Anagi". It was the model used in the commercialisation
phase initiated in 1991 by the Integrated Development Association (IDEA)
with technical assistance from the ITDG and funding from the ODA. The stove
is designed to cater for the cooking needs of an average family of 6 people.

It can be estimated that over two million "Anagi" stoves have been
commercially produced and marketed since 1991. Now, about 300000 stoves are
annually produced by 120 rural potters trained by IDEA scattered in 14
districts of the country. Today "Anagi" ICS is one of the most widespread
pottery items in village grocery stores. If the Anagi stove is used without
insulation, its life-time may be of about 1 year and if insulated, 3 years
or more. Several district surveys revealed that over 20% of households use
Anagi stoves. Sri Lanka's ICS promotion is now fully commercialised. The
basic factors of demand, supply and profitmaking concepts determine the
continuation of the commercialisation of ICS.

Training in stove production is provided by IDEA and a set of templates and
moulds are given to the trained potters to maintain the correct dimensions
and quality. A training manual has been prepared to cover all aspects of the
stove construction from clay mixing, to throwing, assembling, drying and
firing of stoves. The technical energy efficiency of the "Anagi " ICS is 21%
and a large number of field tests performed recorded firewood savings
ranging from 22% to 43% in addition to an average time saving of 30%. The
wholesale price of the stove at the production centre ranges from RS 65 to
Rs 95 while the retail price varies from about Rs 90 to Rs 200, (* 1 Euro =
Rs 120) .

Marketing of Stoves

General distributors (Wholesale buyers) visit the production centres to buy
the stoves in bulk. Producers have their regular buyers. A lorry can
accommodate about 400 stoves at a time. Stoves purchased are distributed to
retail shops spread over a distance of about 200 km. Small producers living
in isolated areas sell their products directly in the village at prices much
higher than the normal selling price of Rs 120.

Simple cost- benefit analysis

Assumptions:

An average family of 6 persons use 200 kg/month

Price of firewood: Rs 3/kg Average cooking time 6 hrs/day

Average firewood savings and time savings 30%

Average stove price: Rs 120

(Note: Majority of rural users collect their own firewood at no cost)

Financial benefit: Rs 60/month. Pay back period 2 months

Time savings: 2 hrs/day

Environmental Benefits: In a study done by the Centre of Environmental
strategy, University of Surrey, it is estimated that considering 4
scenarios, the Anagi Stove has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions within
a range of of 111 kg/ CO2/capita/year to 266 CO2/capita/year. (Initial
Evaluation of CDM type projects in Developing Countries. Dr K.G. Begg et al.
Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey)

Employment & Income Generation/ 1000 stoves/month

Assumption: Wholesale price Rs 65/stove and Retail Price Rs 120/stove

Production Turnover: Rs 65000. Employment: 1 potter and 3 unskilled persons.
Sales

turnover: Rs 55000

Profile of a stove production village

Kumbukgete is the main stove production village situated in the North
Central province in Sri Lanka. In the year 1985 one family in this village
was trained to produce the "Sarvodaya" stove under the National Fuelwood
Conservation Programme implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board. The
monthly production of 300 stoves was sold at Rs 25/stove to the programme.
This was the beginning of stove production in this village. In 1991 when the
commercial programme was initiated by the Integrated Development Association
(IDEA) with the support from ITDG to commercialise the "Anagi" Stove
(improvement of Sarvodaya stove} five families in the village were trained
to produce 500 stoves a month. At the end of 1996 when the programme was
over the production had increased to 1500 with 10 families involved in
production.

Thanks to the continuation of the programme by IDEA after 1996 and the
partial support from the ARECOP (Asian Regional Cookstove Programme) as well
as the support of many other donors, the monthly production in the village
gradually increased to 15000 stoves, which is almost 60% of the total stove
production in Sri Lanka.

Out of the 39 potter families, 29 families are engaged in stove production
deriving unskilled labour from the neighbouring villages. Out of the 171
engaged in production activities 80 are women, 122 are from the families
within the village and the rest, mainly for unskilled labour are from the
neighbouring villages. Twelve producers have obtained bank loans ranging
from Rs 75000 to Rs 200000 to be invested in stove production.

The following data provides evidence of the substantial improvement in the
socio-economic status thanks to the stove-production activities within the
village.

Production and Income (See link to story at:
http://bioenergylists.org/en/srilankaanagi  )

Material Acquisitions before and after commencing stove production

(See link to story at: http://bioenergylists.org/en/srilankaanagi  )

Improvement in Houses 

(See link to story at: http://bioenergylists.org/en/srilankaanagi  )

Original story September 2005, IDEA

2006 100 Sri Lanka Rupees = 0.768 EUR