Faced with difficult access to electricity, wood remains families’ main source of energy. However, cutting and carrying the wood requires a significant amount of work from the women, and burning it in homes increases the risk of respiratory and eye infections.
Moreover, Ferlo’s ecosystems have been significantly deteriorated, in particular its forests.
With its project “Action pilote biogaz” (pilot biogas initiative), the association “Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières” (Agronomists and Vets Without Borders – AVSF) set up around 40 biodigesters to recycle cattle manure from Ferlo. AVSF asked the Air Liquide Foundation to finance the acquisition of equipment for eight of these units and to train several builders for their construction.
“The biogas is used to cook meals and it provides sufficient lighting to ensure the children’s safety and allow them to study. Moreover, it reduces the need for the women to collect wood and it reduces respiratory diseases related to the interior pollution caused by the fumes,” explains Frédéric Apollin, Executive Director of AVSF.
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