Household survey

Household surveys has become a key and among the most flexible method of data collection in social research (Neuman, 2006; O'Leary, 2004). It is often a structured way to collect information. A survey can be defined as an information collection process by asking a range of individuals the same questions related to their characteristics, attributes, way of living or their opinions to generate standardised, empirical data (O'Leary, 2004). A survey is useful to collect standardised information from a large number of individuals when independent opinions and responses are required (Neuman, 2006). The aim of the survey in this research was to assess the potential for improving biogas production efficiency by collecting household-level information on a range of topics concerning socio-economic characteristics, energy use patterns before and after biogas plant installation, demand and consumption patterns of biogas to identify biogas deficit and how the users cope with low biogas production, and availability of different types and quantity of feedstock. This survey also aimed to gather information for the comparative analysis of the cost of energy before and after the use of biogas, and examine the potential of biogas to reduce energy consumption and associated environmental emissions.

101 Considering the wide range of information to be collected through this survey, this study was targeted to the decision-maker, speaking on behalf of the entire household, and a female member managing the household energy system, together, as respondents for the survey (Figure 4.6). The prevailing socio-economic cultural settings of Nepal gives decision-making power and control to the head of the household, and

this is generally a male who makes the majority of the household’s decisions

(Shrestha, Shrestha, & Shrestha, 2004). However, females are very much involved in managing the household energy systems and are the ones who are directly affected by the household energy crisis (Katuwal & Bohara, 2009; Mahat, 2003). Hence their representation and opinion in these surveys was considered vital. It would be very difficult to extract the information if the surveys were not considered from a gendered perspective. The surveys took place at the respondents’ houses.

Figure 4.6: A household survey in Lamjung district

A household survey questionnaire, most of which were closed-ended, was prepared

and used to extract information from the respondents. O’Leary (2004) argues that closed-ended questions are pre-categorised and have greater precision, uniformity, are easier to recall for the respondents, and easier for coding and analysis. The questionnaire was also discussed with the Director, Assistant Director and Treasurer of the BSP-Nepal, who were happy about the contents of the questionnaire. The draft questionnaire was also tested/piloted in four households during the planning/preparation phase before conducting the actual survey, in order to identify any missing information in the questionnaire and/or potential difficulties that might be

102 encountered while answering the questions. Pre-testing of a questionnaire is important in planning a good survey, as identification of questionnaire problems and much of the accuracy and interpretability of the survey results lies on this pre-testing; if avoided, it may lead to loss of vital information (Fink, 2009; Scheuren, 2004). Pre-testing of the questionnaire is useful to ensure that each question measures what it is supposed to measure, and all of the questions are understood and interpreted in the same way by all respondents (Salant & Dillman, 1994). The questionnaire was tested against time taken, pacing, recording/note-taking, objectivity, conversational flow, ambiguities and quality of data generated (O'Leary, 2004), and interviewees’ feedback on difficulties encountered or anything else they wanted to discuss were analysed. The respondents provided positive feedback on interview time taken, pacing, objectivity and conversational flow. However, the pre-testing with one-on-one interviews identified duplication in the understanding and interpretation of two questions related to energy use patterns and biogas availability, and a few formatting concerns in terms of recording/note-taking. These problems were rectified to produce a final questionnaire (Annex 5). The questionnaire was then translated into Nepali language for the convenience of the respondents, and the required number of questionnaires was printed.

The survey was facilitated by the researcher. The field assistants assisted the researcher in recording, particularly, the answers to the open-ended questions during the surveys. The interview was started in an informal way to establish rapport, gain trust and create a conducive environment to open and honest communication (O'Leary, 2004). The respondents were first introduced to the researcher, and given an explanation of the research aims and objectives. The ethical principles were outlined,

fieldwork processes were stated and the importance of the respondents’ information to

this research was described. The researcher then asked the respondents for their agreement to be interviewed for this study. The survey proceeded only when the respondents agreed to be interviewed, although none showed their disagreement. The respondents were also given a copy of the questionnaire to read, if they wished. In order to create a transparent environment for the survey, notes were taken in the

Nepali language, the respondents’ native language. For those who could not read, both

the questionnaire and notes were clearly read out to them. Towards the end of each survey, a brief summary of the interview was presented in order to ensure that the views of the respondents were accurately recorded and consent to use the information for this research was reaffirmed.

103 This household survey collected a range of information, which included:

x Socio-economic information, for example, ethnicity, family size, type/number of livestock, land-holding, occupation/income source and distance to forest for sourcing fuelwood;

x Energy use patterns before and after biogas was introduced, for example, access to electricity, type and quantity of energy used for cooking and lighting, and daily energy consumption patterns;

x Specifications of the biogas plant installed, e.g., plant size and age, use of biogas, number of biogas stoves/lights, digester heating system, toilet attachment;

x Availability of feedstock, e.g., daily requirement and availability of dung for both summer and winter seasons, use and availability of other organic material as feedstock, present use of agricultural residues and implications of agricultural residues on previous or other potential uses if used as feedstock;

x Anticipated biogas demand and actual availability, surplus/deficit status, and measures to increase biogas production;

x Economic evaluation of biogas and alternative energy systems x Role of biogas in reducing women’s workload.

In order to measure the changes in energy use patterns due to the installation of a biogas plant, the respondents were asked about the energy sources they used for cooking and lighting before and after the installation of biogas for both the winter and summer seasons. Daily biogas demand and biogas availability for cooking and lighting for both seasons were extracted from the respondents in order to examine the demand and consumption pattern of biogas and to analyse how the users cope when lower gas production occurs. Likewise, the respondents were asked to report the type and quantity of animal dung available for feeding into the digester daily and whether they were using any other organic materials as feedstock. The aim was to explore if insufficient availability of feedstock is a major factor for lower biogas gas production. Similarly, information on the economic aspects of biogas and alternative energy systems, particularly solar lighting and solar cooking, was collected to look at the potential of other energy sources in meeting the energy demand that could not be met with the biogas. The information collected during the survey was also verified with the household profile made available by the respective biogas construction companies, and any inconsistency detected was corrected by consulting the respective households. After the completion of the survey, the filed impressions and initial findings were shared with the experts from the BSP-Nepal and the biogas construction companies.

104 Due to the nature of the data to be collected (e.g., seasonal variation in biogas production and consumption and feedstock availability), the household surveys were conducted in two different seasons, summer (June – August) and winter (December – February). As biogas production and use depends also on temperature, that is, farmers experienced low biogas production during winter or in cold climate regions, it was important to look at biogas demand and availability in both the seasons separately. The questionnaire was also designed accordingly to record the information specific to both the seasons (Annex 5). The same respondents in the first visit (summer) were spoken with during the second visit (winter). A third visit was also made to a few households where the same respondents were not available for the survey during the second visit. Questions not specific to any season (e.g., household characteristics, specifications of biogas plants installed, changes in energy use pattern after biogas, economic

evaluation of biogas system, changes in women’s time allocation and workload on

household activities after biogas) and summer-specific questions (related to feedstock availability, biogas demand and availability in summer) were asked during the first visit. Only winter-specific questions were specifically asked during the second visit. The field assistants arranged the dates for the surveys in consultation with the participant households. The average time taken for the interview was about 1.2 hours in the first visit and 30 minutes in the second visit. The data collected were carefully checked, coded and transferred into a spreadsheet.

The fieldwork took longer than expected due to the remoteness of the sampled households, rainy season (June/July), due to flooding and blocked roads, and peak crop (paddy) planting season making people busy in the field (see Annex 2). The field

work was again slowed down due to farmers’ unavailability during the peak crop harvesting season (November/December). Furthermore, the unstable political situation that gave rise to frequent strikes/protests (organised by various political parties and/or student unions) also affected the fieldwork initially.