1 Directorate of Planning & Monitoring, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, UDAIPUR – 313 001, INDIA. Email: sudhirjain@rediffmail.com
2 College of Dairy & Food Science Technology, MPUAT, UDAIPUR. Email: rathoren@rediffmail.
In a typical rural household, cooking energy accounts for about 85% of the total energy consumption, mainly derived from wood. Traditional wood-based cooking stoves are only 8–10% efficient and emit a lot of smoke during cooking. On the basis of eating habits, fuel type available and fuel conditions, two new durable models of cooking stoves have been designed and developed. One is the single pot Chetak and the other is the double pot Udairaj. Both are made of brick and cement-mortar and cost Rs. 175/- and Rs. 230/-, respectively. The improved cooking stoves (Chulha) have efficiency from 20–40%. These two newly developed models are becoming popular in the state of Rajasthan as well as in the adjoining states.
