Adoption of Biogas Technology Projects among Rural Household of Lanet Location- Nakuru County

Abstract

Biogas technology is one of the renewable energy with various benefits and the ability to provide an alternative to the more expensive hydro-electric power. Effort by the government of Kenya to promote the adoption of the Biogas technology is well spelled out in the National Energy Sessional Paper of 2004 and in the Energy Act No.1 2 of 2006. There is evidence that adoption of Biogas technology is very low and little is known about factors that could be causing this poor adoption rate particularly among the rural population. This study sought to investigate how selected household characteristics, household attitudes, and household income influenced adoption of biogas technology projects. Descriptive research design targeting 6,956 households in Lanet Location, Dundori Division of Nakuru North District was employed. A sample size of 364 households was selected proportionally and systematically from two sub-locations forming Lanet location (Mereroni and Muruyu). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The study established that only 24.1% of households had adopted biogas technology. The adoption levels between Male-headed and female-headed households were found to be 41(12.7%) and 37(1l.4%) respectively. Among the households heads with positive attitude towards biogas technology projects, only 18.8% had actually adopted the technology. Of those who had not adopted the projects, 37% had neutral attitude towards the technology. Income was the main factor behind the adoption of biogas technology. The study concluded there was low adoption which could have been caused by factors such as education level of the respondents.