Biogas technology infusion in rural Punjab

The study revealed that all the plants constructed were of fixed dome type Deenbandhu model biogas plants and were being used at domestic level. The land holdings of the farmers who installed the biogas plants vary from 02 to 60 acres. Of the 50 plants working in different villages, 94 percent plants were functioning satisfactorily and only 6 percent plants were working partially with intermittent gas supply. Out of these plants, 38 (76 percent) were of 6 m3 capacity and 12 (24 percent) were of 4 m3 capacity. 30 plants (60 percent) were being used only for cooking purposes at household level whereas 20 (40 percent) were being used both for cooking and heating purposes. 48 plants (about 98 percent) were installed between 2007 to 2012 by the trained masons that helped them in getting the required subsidy from the government. The plants were being operated for 2 to 8 hours daily that helped in saving LPG consumption and all the farmers were very satisfied with the use of biogas at domestic level that not only resulted in socio-economic development but saves their time in getting LPG cylinders from city.