VGRRC, Women Unions, DED & SNV

1. VGRRC, Women Unions, DED & SNV Methane (Biogas) from Anaerobic Digesters VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

2. Who we are • Goat and Rabbit Research Centre in Vietnam (VGRRC) • located in Ha Tay Province • founded in 1978 • 70 scientific and extension staff • 64,9 ha • 50 ha for trials fodder production, trial fields intercropping, forest and fish ponds • VGRRC demonstrates the advantages of integrated farming on site VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

3. Ha Tay Province • in northern Vietnam • 2.193 km² • 14 Districts • Ba Vi National park 7000 ha • Population: 2.386.770 • Kinh • Muong & Dao (ethnic Minorities) • Main sources of income: • Agriculture, Small Business, Tourism • Average per capita income per annum: • 70 bis 120 US$ Ha Tay Province Hanoi VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

4. Ha Tay ProvinceSon Tay and Ba Vi district Son Tay & Ba Vi VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

5. What we do: Research Extension Training • Integrated Farming Systems • Sustainable Development • Goat, sheep and rabbit husbandry • Renewable Energies VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

6. Results achieved so far are based on simple low-cost technologies and on training. The main beneficiaries are small-scale women farmers who not only carry out much of the work at farm level but who were and continue to be the processors and marketers of their high quality products. Biogas technology is a complete system in itself with its set objectives (cost effective production of energy and soil nutrients). The residue is known as effluent. It is an almost pathogen-free stabilized manure that can be used to maintain soil fertility, fertilize fishponds end enhance crop production. This approach enabled the provision of a higher rates of return to farmers and has contributed to a successful and sustainable operation of the farms. This approach also attracted significant attention from other donors. VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

7. Methane (Biogas) from Anaerobic Digesters • Mrs. Hue and her family had a biogas system installed in Spring 2002 • Mrs. Hue has a small restaurant in Ba Vi village • Her husband is fattening pigs in the backyard Mrs.Hue, her husband & Mr. Lin, Mai 2002 VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

8. Batch-type digesters • The anaerobic digester is made out of concrete • and placed underground VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

9. Inlet • The design consists of • an inlet • connecting the stable to the biogas digester • manure is washed into the digester when the stable floor is flushed with water • this reduces the work load of the farmer considerably Outlets from empty stables can be temporarily blocked with rocks VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

10. Outlet • The design includes • an outlet • to distribute the effluent • directly to the field • or into a fish pond VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

11. Processing of wastes for energy recovery & nutrient recycling • The solid material drawn from the digester is called sludge, or effluent. • It is rich in nutrients: • ammonia, phosphorus, potassium • and more than a dozen trace elements It is an almost pathogen-free stabilized manure that can be used to maintain soil fertility, fertilize fishponds end enhance crop production. here, the effluent is used to fertilize a fishpond VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

12. Cooking with Biogas Biogas is odourless The flame is bright, and burns steadily All types of gas cookers available in Son Tay can use biogas VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

13. Cooking with Biogas • Mrs. Hue uses biogas • in her restaurant • and for • preparing meals for her family VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

14. Improved living conditions • A new toilet was built, improving the family’s sanitary conditions • the toilet is also connected to the biogas digester, thus processing human wastes VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

15. Direct impact Reduced fuel demands eases the workload of the women who collect it Reduced needs of fuel wood results in considerable savings for the household Women are less exhausted and spend more quality time with their families The reduction in pollutants improves the health status of the women who work in the kitchen Women in Kim Son, Son Tay transport the fuel wood needed on their way back home from work in the factory VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

16. Converting Manure • Biogas offers an environmental-friendly way of converting manure into methane and almost pathogen-free stabilized fertilizer • its primary benefits are: • waste treatment • converting manure into energy and almost pathogen-free stabilized manure fertilizer • odour control • nutrient recycling on-farm VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

17. Extension Regular extension visits are made VGRRC provides assistance and advise VGRRC co-operates with local women unions the German Development Service (DED) and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in setting up biogas units in Ba Vi and Son Tay Mr. Son in front of a biogas cooker in an ethnic minority cooking-house VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

18. Training courses for subsistence farmers in their villages • VGRRC offers training courses for subsistence farmers • at VGRRC • at their villages Participants of a training course in Van Hoa, November 2002 VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo

19. You can find us in the WWW: For example at http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/lps/dairy/fdp/vietnam.htm http://www.kehlbach.de/ or contact by e-mail: binhbavi@netnam.vn by Telephone: 0084 (0) 34 838 341 via Fax: 0084 (0) 34 838 889 VGRRC: Renewable energies (biogas) by Susanne Hugo