Environmental research

Target Population / Location of project: 30 houesholds of small scale farmer in irrigated area with paddy and soya-bean as major crops, in three tambols, two districts of Loei Province , an integral part of the Middle Lower Mekhong Basin Environment Problems and Livelihood: Corn and paddy are two major crops grown in project location. Hog raising , though less important in former time, has been a common practice and now gradually gained more importance. Excessive hog manure renders local environment problem with regular complaint from community members. Biogas technology offers one of the telling solutions. Objectives: 1.To reduce the dependence upon fossil fuels for daily household use and production process 2.To reduce the dependence upon chemical fertilizer in agricultural practice Activities to be taken: 1. Launching both technical and institutional capacity of target population 2. Constructing and putting into use biogas facilities as follows: - 17 pits of 6 cu.m - one pit of 30 cu.m - one pit of 50 cu.m 3. Blending by-product liquid obtained from biogas pits with other biomass to palletized organic compost and use in agricultural practice Anticipated Outputs and Results: 1 Approximately 48 cu.m /day being generated , used and replacing fossil-based energy: - At least 17 household completely avoiding the use of canned gas from markets 2. The hog raising facilities completely avoiding the use of electricity from grid 3. Biogas technology becoming more acceptable in communities 4. Approximately three tons/day of fertilizer being produced , substantially reducing the use of chemical fertilizer and production cost 5. Evinced cleaner local environment

Thailand