Promotion of stoves has formed an important part of Liana (NGO) development projects in Northern Tanzania from 2009 to 2011.
As we wanted to offer some choice of stoves to families with very differing means and needs, nine of the better documented models or locally known models were introduced to the farmers in Mwanga and Moshi in the initial theory training sessions. Following an exercise in which each farmer selected a stove type s/he would like to have and could afford to have in her/his home, the number of potentially suitable stoves was reduced. As women became more aware of the dangerous effects of indoor smoke, having a chimney became more and more important and many models without chimney dropped out.
Thus we remained with four main stove models. These are Vita metal stove, Upesi burned clay stove, Lorena mud stove (or built with bricks inside) and a rocket Brick and cement stove. During the process two of the stove models, Vita and Upesi were considerably modified. Vita obtained a short chimney (90cm measured from the middle of the hole to the top, 8x8cm) and Upesi was developed into two slightly different new models, both with a fire grate allowing air intake to the fire chamber through holes in the grate.
As part of our project Save firewood by improved stoves we assessed the stoves. The report of this assessment has the results of the boiling point tests, controlled cooking tests and an interview study on user experiences in Mwanga and Moshi.
You can access the report from the following link:
http://www.liana-ry.org/Liana_docs/Liana_stove_tests_in_tanzania_2011.pdf