Gujarat Village Adopts Biogas, Cutting Smoke and Creating Women-Led Fertilizer Cooperative

In Zakariyapura, a village in Gujarat, residents previously relied on wood-fired stoves that filled kitchens with smoke and caused respiratory problems and eye irritation for women who spent hours cooking. Household budgets were strained by the cost of firewood and LPG cylinders, and domestic tensions were common.

The shift began when a resident, Madhuben, visited a biogas plant in a neighboring village and advocated for the technology in her own community. With support from the National Dairy Development Board, biogas plants were installed in all 368 cattle-owning households.

Each plant uses a mixture of cattle dung and water to produce biogas for cooking and a nutrient-rich slurry as a byproduct. Families no longer depend on smoky stoves or purchased LPG, reducing household expenses and improving indoor air quality.

Women in the village organized the country's first all-women manual cooperative to process and sell the organic fertilizer produced as slurry. This initiative turned what was previously considered waste into a marketable product.

Participating households now earn between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per month from fertilizer sales, providing a new source of livelihood. The additional income has eased financial pressure that previously contributed to domestic disputes.

With less time required for collecting firewood and managing traditional cooking, women have more capacity for other activities. Young girls in the village now have more time to focus on their education instead of assisting with household chores.

The project demonstrates how a community-driven approach to renewable energy can address health, economic, and social challenges simultaneously. Zakariyapura's model is being observed by other villages seeking sustainable improvements to rural life.