2. Why biogas ?
There are several alternatives to solve a farmers energy problem and there are different ways of manure management on a farm. Biogas might not be the best solution for all problems but it is one method to take care of many aspects. The biogas unit is a system in which the three components biogas plant, animal production and fodder grass plantation form a natural cycle.
Each of the three parts has d,rect benefits to the farmer and his economy:
-The animals generate income by supplying milk and meat.
-The gasplant provides comfort and saves expenditure by supplying clean cooking and lighting fuel.
-The fodder grass plantation creates sustainability by protecting the soil against erosion. Fodder plantation gives most profit from a small patch of land and often is less labour intensive than cutting fodder grass outside the farm. Beside the fodder grass, vegetables and fruits benefit the use of digested slurry as fertilizer.
Biogas is Just a clever way of exploiting nature without -destroying it. Biogas optimizes farm economy. Biogas Plants support self-reliance and fit in concepts of sustainable development.
Fig.1: The cycle of organic matter and the benefits of an agricultural biogas unit The animals provide dung to the biogas plant, the gasplant provides manure to the fodder plantation and the plantation provides feed to the animals. If enough water is given to the animals, no additional water is required for the biogas plant.
