DIG-L: Thesis diffusion of biogas technology in India available on-line

["Mathias Gustavsson" <mathias.gustavsson@he.gu.se>]

Dear listmembers, 

I would like to inform you that the thesis 'Biogas Technology - Solution in Search of Its Problem, A Study of Small-Scale Rural Technology Introduction and Integration' is available on-line at the following address: www.he.gu.se/dot. 

The thesis concerns the Indian biogas programme; the history and design of the national biogas programme as well as the use of the technology in the rural context. An abstract of the thesis is found in the end of this e-mail.

Comments and questions are welcome and should be sent to the author at the following address: mathias.gustavsson@he.gu.se

Regards

Mathias Gustavsson


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Mathias Gustavsson 
mathias.gustavsson@he.gu.se
Dept Interdisciplinary Studies
Göteborg University
SWEDEN




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*Abstract*

The thesis aims to present and problematise perspectives of processes involved in diffusion of small-scale rural technology in Third World Countries. The focus is on processes that are initiated and upheld by organisations or governments, so-called induced diffusion processes. Diffusion of technology is viewed from two perspectives, (i) introduction of technology and (ii) integration of technology. The introduction perspective relates to how the technology is made available and accessible to the users. The integration perspective relates to the effects of the technology when it is integrated into the livelihood systems of the users.

The diffusion of small-scale domestic biogas units in India was studied. Secondary sources and interviews constitute the main source of information. In India a Government programme promoting biogas technology has facilitated the installation of more than 2.7 million biogas units in rural areas. The users of the technology are the women in the household. Even though this is acknowledged, women have had little influence on the development of the technology per se, and the implementation process. The integration of biogas technology in the user's (women) livelihood system raises a number of questions regarding how well adapted the technology really is to the local conditions. 

The analysis in the thesis shows that the introduction of the technology has been successful, while the integration of the technology has been less successful in different socio-ecological situations. A distinction has to be made between practical experienced benefits, and potential benefits. While the local knowledge dimension is linked to the practical experienced benefits, potential benefits are based on knowledge from the global knowledge dimension.






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