Mayon Turbo Stove: Gambia Case Study
Helping Re-Green the Landscape of West Africa
Gambian landscapes are now only dotted with trees from the denuding of forests for farmland development, building materials and fuelwood. |
Long logs of firewood are used for fuel during village ceremonies. The heavy smoke generated poses a health hazard for the women and the babies they carry on their backs |
Understanding the need to relieve people's dependency on woodfuel, REAP-Canada introduced the Mayon Turbo Stove in the Gambia in September 2003. The technology peaked the interest of many women, researchers, and NGO workers as they realized its potential to eliminate the burden of fuelwood collection, alleviate indoor air pollution, and preserve the environment. Community members brainstormed with REAP-Canada staff on how to best utilize the stove to fit the Gambian lifestyle. This consultation with local villagers sparked the research, designing, and planning of bringing a larger Mayon Turbo Stove model into people's homes that is more suitable for the large cooking pots and household sizes.
Field testing has shown that the stove can effectively burn selective crop residues of the Gambia including rice hull, millet husk, peanut shells, and corn cob pieces. Dissemination of the stove is being targeted towards communities where people are buying fuelwood.
Abundant millet (left) and peanut (right) residues
are currently under analysis as a household cooking fuel for the MTS |
Profuse quantities of smoke are produced while cooking using the traditional three stone cooking method in the Gambia |
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Additional information on the MTS can be found in the on-line library.