Cooking Innovation: Pyuthan man makes burner chulo

Kathmandu, Jan. 31:

About 65 per cent households in Nepal use firewood to cook food, which has severe repercussion not only on the health and wellbeing of the family members but also on the surroundings. 

As smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, soot and many other harmful elements, the rural people, especially women and children, are experiencing lung and respiratory diseases.

Madhukar KC from Padabang of Pyuthan Municipality, Pyuthan district in mid-west Nepal has come up with an innovative yet inexpensive solution to overcome this problem. 

His technology uses 60 per cent less firewood and generates about 80 per cent less smoke, while preparing meals as compared to the traditional way of cooking. 

For example, food enough for a four-member family can be cooked with just 2-4 pieces of wood as firewood is fed from a single side unlike in the traditional hearth where wood has to be arranged from two to three sides. 

KC displays the burner at the CAN InfoTech 2018 

at Bhrikutimandap, Tuesday.

He has developed the technology with a simple modification of the improved fire stove, which uses a metal burner as in a kerosene or gas stove, which allows oxygen to pass from the bottom and ash to filter. 

“The cook stove has a firewood chamber, air flow chamber and two ash release chambers, two cooking chambers and one chimney. As oxygen is passes to the fire, no coal is left, therefore, it generates less ash,” said KC. 

Once lit, it doesn’t need any more effort to keep the fire burning, the oxygen will do this job.

With the growing temperature, the burner turns red and the fire becomes bluish, smoke is diminished and only a small amount of smoke passes through the chimney, leaving the kitchen clean of harmful gases. 

According to KC, the stove can be constructed with locally available materials, such as stones or bricks, mud, dung, ash and husk. A burner has to be bought separately. 

The cook stove is branded as ‘Matribhumi Burner Chulo’ and the patent of the burner is registered.

“The burner chulo can be built at a cost of Rs. 1,500, and the burner can be bought at Rs. 500. If you consider the amount of firewood saved and the positive impact on the health of the family members, this cost is very reasonable,” said KC.  

KC’s innovation has been recognised by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). 

The Burner

His burner stove has already been installed in Nepali paper producing companies.

KC said that the paper companies are now cooking lokta in three hours, which used to take eight hours prior to the installation of the new technology. AEPC is developing about 100 such stoves for the paper producers. 

“Currently, I am constructing 25 burner stoves for milk processors in Kavre, 96 for the Nepal Army's canteens,” he said.

There are burners of different sizes according to the need – 82 holes for a family oven, 113 holes for a restaurant and even more for the army, police and college or university hostels.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1st February 2018.