FOCUS : TECHNOLOGIES FOR INFORMAL PROCESS INDUSTRIES

Project: Promotion of improved Charaka Ovens

Funded By: Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation

Duration: September 2001 - April 2004

The silk reeling industry (mulberry silk, multivoltine) in Karnataka uses about 102000 MTs of biomass fuels were annually used for silk reeling in about 17900 silk reeling units. About 20,000 charakha silk reeling stoves and about 14000 cottage stoves operate in the silk reeling clusters of Karnataka for about 250 days in a year. Technical monitoring conducted by TIDE has shown that the average efficiency of the conventional stoves is about 10% - 14%. Apart from the low efficiencies, the conventional stoves emit smoke in the working environment causing serious respiratory related problems to the reelers. 

Charakha reeling is done by very poor but highly skilled reelers. The objective of the project was to contribute to poverty alleviation among the charakha reelers by reducing expenditure on biomass fuels effected through adoption of energy efficient charakha ovens. TIDE had in an earlier project developed designs of fuel efficient silk reeling ovens that saved about 25- 30% of the biomass used. This design could not be disseminated as the sector was very poor, not bankable and could not afford the cost of a new oven. The project offered to subsidize the cost of the oven by about 50% and make efforts to reduce the extent of subsidy in a phased manner. 

TIDE set up entrepreneurs and strengthened local networks to produce the oven components. The local trained masons would then install the ovens in user premises. 2300 charakha ovens were installed in the project. 43 Italian ovens were also installed where the user paid for the cost of the oven. The ovens installed under the project have created savings of Rs 87 lakhs by the adopters of the oven as of December 2004.  

The Department of Sericulture Govt. of Karnataka has included the fuel efficient charakha oven in their subsidy scheme to enable the charakha reelers to profit from the attractive features of the oven.