Promoting the Utilization of fuelwood substitutes

(2) Utilization of briquettes as a substitute for fuelwood

By Utilization of briquettes (together with efficient cooking stove) as a substitute for fuelwood in everyday cooking, households, restaurants, small and medium enterprises can get more cost-efficient and effective energy consumption. Therefore, the department has been facilitating and providing supports for the establishment of briquette factories to enhance efficient energy consumption in the region. The entrepreneurs from three regions have been producing, selling nd distributing different types of briquettes as fuelwood and charcoal substitutes. Major types of briquettes distributed in the regions are (1) rice husk briquettes (2) jujube husk briquettes (3) oil residue briquettes (4) coal powder briquettes (5) charcoal powder briquettes and (6) saw dust briquettes. The total number of briquettes consumed in the regions from 1997-1998 fiscal yearto 2019-2020 fiscal year are as follows.By Utilization of briquettes (together with efficient cooking stove) as a substitute for fuelwood in everyday cooking, households, restaurants, small and medium enterprises can get more cost-efficient and effective energy consumption. Therefore, the department has been facilitating and providing supports for the establishment of briquette factories to enhance efficient energy consumption in the region. The entrepreneurs from three regions have been producing, selling nd distributing different types of briquettes as fuelwood and charcoal substitutes. Major types of briquettes distributed in the regions are (1) rice husk briquettes (2) jujube husk briquettes (3) oil residue briquettes (4) coal powder briquettes (5) charcoal powder briquettes and (6) saw dust briquettes. The total number of briquettes consumed in the regions from 1997-1998 fiscal yearto 2019-2020 fiscal year are as follows.

(3)Utilization of Agricultural Residues

As an alternative mean on promotion of utilization of fuelwood substitutes, DZGD has encouraged the local households to increase the use of locally available agricultural residues such as sesame stalks, pigeon pea stalks, cotton stalks and peanut shells, etc as fuelwood substitutes. The following table shows the total amount of agricultural residues used as fuelwood substitutes in Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay Regions during the period of 1997-1998 fiscal year to 2019-2020 fiscal year.

With the aim to gradually disseminate the idea and increase the coverage area using fuelwood substitutes, from model villages to model townships and model districts, a program on the establishment of model villages of utilizing fuelwood substitutes has been being implemented. Since 1997-1998, every year, one village in each 53 townships of DZGD working area has been selected and established as model village of utilizing fuelwood substitutes. The below table shows the number of model villages established in three regions from 1997-98 to 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Since 2014-2015 fiscal year, of the model villages established by year in the regions, those with remarkable long-term participation one village per year in each region have selected and awarded as outstanding model village.

The most effective way to enhance the awareness of the communities on environmental conservation and to educate them to use fuelwood substitutes widely in the region is conducting awareness campaigns at the village level. Environmental education and awareness campaigns were organized by the township staff officers, 2 times per month, from 2006-2007 to 2015-2016 fiscal year. Since 2014-2015 fiscal year, to enhance the effectiveness of these education and awareness campaigns, the regional directors region and assistant directors of the respective regions and districts also participate and led these activities. Starting from 2016-2017 fiscal year, township staff officers have been scaling up the awareness events up to 3 times per month within their townships. Number of environmental education campaigns organized by Dry Zone Greening Department within three regions from 1997-1998 to 2019-2020 fiscal year is as follow:

Intending to facilitate for wide use of energy saving efficient A1 stoves together with briquettes and agriculture residuces to promote self initiatives in planting, tending and wise use of trees by the communities and to develop a proactive and inclusive community approach on environmental conservation in the area, environmental education centers were established in the regions starting from 2014-2015 fiscal year: 2 centers per region (Total 6) and education events have been being organized at these centers by inviting the local communities students and the interested persons. Through these extension centers, 937 public education and awareness events on evniromental conservation have been organized from 2014-2015 fiscal year to 2019-2020 fiscal year. The environmental education centers established by DZGD by regions by region are as follows: