Perceptions of the Impact of Biogas: A Case Study from Pakistan’s Southern District Muzaffargarh

Abstract

In the era when climate change is causing havoc on the health, economics, infrastructure and environment of the mankind, alternatives to fossil fuel energies being promoted. Renewable energy resources are more sustainable as compared to fossil fuels and have the potency to replace conventional and pollution inducing energy resources. Biogas an alternative green energy resource that generates energy from organic matter has been introduced in Pakistan.  This energy resource has found to have a great potential and many initiatives of biogas has been initiated by the government and non-government organizations. The present study was designed in order to understand the level of awareness and preference of using biogas as an alternative energy resource for day to day household activities. The study involved a primary data collection from 10 villages in District Muzaffargarh. Data were gathered from 70 livestock farming households in the study sites using purposive sampling. Descriptive analysis was used in order to depict the status, level of utilization and preference of biogas over other conventional sources. It was observed that addition of a biogas among the already present fuel sources have divided the burden on solid biomass fuels. The empirical evidence displayed that the people experienced a cut in their expenses, smaller number of ailments has been registered since the use of this green energy. The study concluded that awareness and information regarding the biogas technology must be publicized in order to generate eminent profits.