Adoption of the new highly efficient cooking stoves by urban households in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

The study was aimed at ascertaining the adoption of New Highly Efficient Cooking Stoves (NHECS) imported from China by Zanzibar’s urban households for reducing cooking costs, health impacts and environmental degradation. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observation, and secondary data were collected from government reports and research documents associated with this study. Based on the research plan, 200 participants were purposely selected for questionnaire interview. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study indicated that charcoal remain the primary cooking energy used in urban Zanzibar. It was found to be used in traditional cooking stoves, although some households combine them with NHECS. Despite the significant benefits of NHECS in terms of lower use of charcoal, adoption of them is very limited, due to some constraining factors. The stoves’ characteristics, household characteristics and awareness were acknowledged as the main reasons for the failure of NHECS adoption. Also, it was found that the presence of NHECS does not guarantee that they will be used comprehensively since some NHECS adopters still cook the majority of their meals on traditional stoves. In order to better influence diffusion and adoption of cooking innovation such as NHECS, the perception of the adopters on the characteristics of the innovation and other factors that may constrain adoption should be integrated within the plan intended to influence mass adoption. Key words: Adoption, charcoal, efficient, perception, stoves, Zanzibar.