Socioeconomic impacts of domestic biogas plants on rural households to strengthen energy security

Iqbal, Nadeem; Sakhani, Muhammad Arshad; Khan, Abdul Razzaq; Atiq-ur-Rehman; Ajmal, Zahid; Khan, Muhammad Zubair

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-12633-2

Research Article
Published: 28 January 2021

Socioeconomic impacts of domestic biogas plants on rural households to strengthen energy security

Nadeem Iqbal¹,
Muhammad Arshad Sakhani²,
Abdul Razzaq Khan³,
Atiq-ur-Rehman⁴,
Zahid Ajmal⁵ &
Muhammad Zubair Khan⁶

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 28, pages 27446–27456 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The central theme of the study is to assess the socioeconomic impact of household biogas plants on rural households. To this end, the study selected respondents from biogas plant holders and non-holders of biogas plants in rural areas of Muzaffar-Garh. During the field survey, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 40 biogas users in two villages in each Tehsil and 40 non-biogas users in the same village. A survey based on pre-designed questionnaire was conducted, and main data of 320 households in four Tehsil districts (interviewees) in the Muzaffar-Garh region were collected. In this study, biogas is the input variable, while elderly education and total household income are the input socioeconomic variables. Farm productivity, time saving, indoor air pollution, household hygiene, and expenditure are intermediate variables. The output variables include income, health, and education level of minor children aged 2–5 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques that describe the relationship between input variables and output variables can be used to obtain steadfast results. Based on the estimates, we have observed that BG investments have substantial impacts on farm productivity, time savings, indoor air pollution, household hygiene, and expenditure, which in turn has played a role in improving the status of people. It is concluded that many direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts of holding biogas plants on rural households can be measured. In order to widely promote biogas technology as an alternative energy source nationwide, there must be greater public participation.

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Affiliations

AUSOM, Air University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Nadeem Iqbal
Department of Economics, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Arshad Sakhani
SZABIST, ISLABABA, Karachi, Pakistan
Abdul Razzaq Khan
University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Atiq-ur-Rehman
Helping Hand for Relief & Development, Islamabad, Pakistan
Zahid Ajmal
Faculty of Basic Sciences, BUITEMS Quetta, Quetta, Pakistan
Muhammad Zubair Khan

Authors

Nadeem Iqbal
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Muhammad Arshad Sakhani
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Abdul Razzaq Khan
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Atiq-ur-Rehman
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Zahid Ajmal
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Muhammad Zubair Khan
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Contributions

Dr. Nadeem Iqbal: conceptualization, data curation, methodology, Writing—original draft. Muhammad Arshad Sakhani: data curation, visualization. Abdul Razzaq Khan: visualization, supervision, editing. Atiq-ur-Rehman: review & editing, Zahid Ajmal: writing—review & editing and software.

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Correspondence to Nadeem Iqbal.

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Iqbal, N., Sakhani, M.A., Khan, A.R. et al. Socioeconomic impacts of domestic biogas plants on rural households to strengthen energy security. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 27446–27456 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12633-2

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Received: 06 November 2020
Accepted: 19 January 2021
Published: 28 January 2021
Issue Date: June 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12633-2

Keywords

Social wellbeing
Biogas
Structural equation modeling