Productive Use of Thermal Energy in Agro-Processing
Ghana,
concluded
The goal of this project is to reduce the carbon intensity, health impacts and pressure on forests resulting from the use of traditional wood stoves for agro-processing.
Project overview
The goal of this project was to reduce carbon intensity, mitigate health impacts, and alleviate pressure on forests by transitioning from traditional wood stoves to modern agro-processing technologies.
A significant portion of agricultural produce critical to food security and rural livelihoods—including shea nuts, palm kernels, peanut seeds, and cassava—depended on thermal energy for processing. Historically, these activities were conducted by small-scale industries using inefficient three-stone fires or traditional ovens. These methods resulted in high production costs, hazardous working environments, and severe environmental degradation through deforestation.
It is estimated that 25% of all cassava is processed to 'Gari', which is storable fermented flour. The production of Gari includes an energy-intensive roasting process. In total 740,000 tons of Gari are produced per year in Ghana creating a market potential for up to 50,000 improved institutional Gari cookstoves.
Economic and environmental impact of improved technology
Modernised cookstoves for gari processing demonstrated the potential to reduce fuelwood consumption by 30%. This efficiency resulted in monthly cost savings of Ghc 62.4 (based on a daily fuelwood consumption of 52 kg). Even when accounting for high commercial interest rates, these savings led to rapid amortisation periods of less than 11 months.
Despite these benefits, efficient stoves were initially available only in limited numbers. The project identified three primary barriers to market penetration:
Limited awareness regarding the availability, costs, and technical benefits of improved stoves.
A shortage of suppliers with the necessary entrepreneurial skills to scale production.
Restricted access to adequate financing and cost-based charging models for processing services.
SNV integrated these insights into the EnDev project in Ghana through the productive use of thermal energy in an agro-processing initiative. The project focused on improving fuel efficiency and increasing the health and incomes of women by introducing improved gari cookstoves. Th
Key achievements and market development
By the end of 2016, the Gari Production Project (GPP) marked our contribution to reaching the following milestones:
Entrepreneurial support: Identified and supported four cookstove entrepreneurs to meet the growing demand for improved technologies in the agro-processing sector.
Product innovation: Advanced the development of three additional improved cookstove models.
Financial inclusion: Established partnerships with three financial institutions to provide agro-processors with dedicated loans for procuring new equipment.
Technical installation: Successfully installed 150 improved gari stoves, including a specialised LPG-powered model, across five regions in Ghana.
Geographic reach: Expanded project activities to over 50 processing communities and 11 districts with high potential for technology adoption.
Capacity building: Engaged 11 demand aggregators and community animators to facilitate the supply chain and educated over 6,000 gari processors on the benefits of improved stoves.
Stakeholder collaboration: Collaborated with major actors across both the demand and supply sides to ensure a self-sustaining and thriving market for the cassava processing industry in Ghana.
