Technological innovation and dispersion: Environmental benefits and the adoption of improved biomass cookstoves in Tigrai, northern Ethiopia

- Deforestation and agricultural land degradation are exacerbated in Ethiopia by biomass cooking stoves.
- Improved cookstove technology can reduce environmental degradation.
- A survey of rural households is used to identify factors affecting adoption of new cookstoves.
- Technological adoption correlates with lower cooking frequency and less time spent collecting fuel.
- Saving from adopting improved stoves increases cattle ownership (store of value).

This paper empirically analyzes adoption and fuel savings efficiency of improved biomass cookstove technology using survey data from a cross-section of 200 farm households from the highlands of Tigrai, northern Ethiopia. Results indicate that these farm households are willing to adopt improved biomass cookstove innovations if this leads to economic savings. Moreover, results suggest significant positive environmental externalities. On a per household basis, we found that adopters collect about 70 kg less wood and about 20 kg less dung each month. The adoption of improved biomass cookstoves reduces harvest pressure on local forest stands: assuming an average of 120 metric tons of biomass per ha, we find the potential reduction in deforestation amounts to some 1400 ha per year - an important saving. Further, the reduced use of dung as a fuel has a positive impact on soil productivity in agriculture.