FOCUS : TECHNOLOGIES FOR INFORMAL PROCESS INDUSTRIES

Project: Process documentation on the project to promote improved Charaka Oven

Funded By: Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation

Duration: April 2005 - August 2005

Data collected by TIDE indicates that silk reeling units in Karnataka (mulberry, multivoltine), use 102,000 MTs of biomass fuels annually.  About 20,000 silk reeling ovens and 14,000 cottage reeling ovens operate for more than 250 days in a year. Technical monitoring by TIDE has shown that the average efficiency of conventional ovens is between 10% and 14%. The conventional ovens also emit smoke in the working environment causing respiratory problems to workers in silk reeling units. TIDE projects assessed that it is easily possible to conserve at least 25% of the fuel consumed besides offering improved air quality through introduction of energy efficient ovens. 

TIDE implemented the project on conserving fuel consumption in silk reeling units in a project supported by the SDC. The project subsidized part cost of the stove but the subsidy offered by the project was far lower than the subsidy offered by the Department of Sericulture in their earlier scheme. A significant achievement of the project was that it was able to sell stoves  (although at reduced rates) to a clientele that was hitherto not used to paying for products. 

Other significant achievements of the project are:

• 2057 charakha ovens adopted in 513 reeling units in 187 villages in two states
• 41 improved cottage ovens adopted by 24 silk reeling units in 3 villages/ towns in Karnataka
• Improved charakha ovens have saved about 90,000 MTs of biomass fuels during the project period.
• The value of the fuel saved is estimated to be Rs 3.6 lakhs
• About 16% of the regularly operating charakha ovens in the project area have been replaced by fuel efficient ovens.
• Local entrepreneurs have generated profits of Rs 3.32 lakhs during the project period through construction of improved charakha ovens