Environmental research

Electricity facility in the district Badin is confined to some portions of the district. For example, source of 76.29 percent housing units in urban area and 28.52 percent in rural area use electricity as source of lighting. The majority of people of rural area are deprived of the provision of electricity and more than 70 percent housing units use Kerosene oil as a source of lighting in rural area. This situation has increased the level threats of indoor pollution in the rural setting. SDA implements this project to introduce Castro Oil as bio fuel for lighting purpose in the areas where kerosine oil is used for lighting. The proposed project is designed for the 10 Villages of 02 Talukas i.e. Badin and Tando Bago of District Badin, wherein about 90% population uses wood for cooking, heating oil and construction purposes and Kerosene for light. This on the one hand putting negative pressure on the environment and on the other hand it is having a bad impact on the indoor health including the health of women and children, increasing expenditure of the local inhabitants and generally putting a bad impact on flora and fauna of the area. Major activities of the project are: oConduct Baseline survey of ten villages of five union councils of Taluka Badin & Tando Bago oMobilize and organize the communities for the adoption and replication of project products oForm 10 Village Development Organizations (VDOs) in the project villages oOrganize 20 community based capacity building trainings of the villagers including for proper usage of E.E lamp and farming of Castro oil seed oDistribute 660 energy efficient lamp products 10 villages oDevelop Castro oil seed farm on four acres of land o Establish Castro Seed Squeezer Shop with squeezing and packing facilities oEstablish two shops for Castro oil and EE lamps marketing ofind out ways and conduct research on the reuse of castro oil seeds if possible and is health and environment friendly oOrganize Training for artisans/entrepreneurs on manufacturing of the products of Project oOrganize district level seminar, Consultative workshop and meetings with NGOs, CBOs, CCBs and local government to highlight project importance and replicate project initiatives oDevelop a farm of castro oil seed on 4 acres and develop a market of bio fuel oOrganize Radio Talk Shows on Energy Efficient Lamp and Bio fuel oEnsure supply of bio fuel in the nearest market oDevelop promotional material and a publish a booklet in Sindhi on alternate energy oOrganize session with community on open defecation free environment in the targeted villages and motivate them to use latrines and improve domestic and environmental hygiene

Pakistan