Improving cookstoves in rural Madagascar

Improving cookstoves is one of Zahana’s development priorities. Most meals in Madagascar are cooked over and pen fire, either using charcoal or firewood (see our other webpage for background).

The burning of firewood is a major contributor to deforestation in Madagascar and reducing the need for firewood wood could greatly reduce the pressure on natural resources.

Changing this millennium old cultural practice to burn wood inside the kitchen is not easy. Small technological changes that can produce the most lasting results, but getting people to adopt these new technologies require patience and perseverance.

Zahana has developed and easy to build cook stove that with a few bricks and some mud can reduce the need for firewood by more than half.

Teaching during a community meeting on how to build the improved cookstove

Two community members in Fiadanana, that built an improved cookstove in their house

The first improved cookstove in the house of the president of women’s group (cooking pots taken off the fire for the photo)

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