Center for Science and Technology Development Studies (PAPPIPTEK)

INDONESIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCES (LIPI)

RURAL RESEARCH & PLANNING GROUP (RRPG)

5th International Conference and Field Study in Malaysia 2014
Institute for Rural Advancement (IFRA), Bangi, Malaysia, August 26-28, 2014

Can Household-Scale Biogas Support Rural

Development? Insight from the Study in
Cibodas Village
Galuh Syahbana Indraprahasta | gsyahbana@yahoo.com
Purnama Alamsyah | purnama.alamsyah@gmail.com

Introduction

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Energy source : critical role in rural livelihood, both for social and economic activities
Availability of modern energy services, in rural area of the developing countries are
still limited
The key : improvement of access to more affordable and clean energy sources.
Biomass is seen as a promising type to be further developed (abundant amount)
Biogas has been developed in rural Indonesia since 4 decades ago. Various actors
ranging from governments, private sectors and NGOs have tried to implement biogas
through various projects
Serious attention to biogas development has been given just since 1 decade ago
Oil bonanza (1960s 1980s) oil importer 2004 (resigned from OPECs member
2008)
Biogas technology for household is not a sophisticated technology, but its potential to be
successfully and appropriately implemented demands more complexity
Suitable for rural and remote areas where the energy infrastructure is still weak

Introduction

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Past researches : mostly focus on energy transition and sustainability issues.

Very limited : to relate biogas (and biomass as well) with rural development
Rural development
Revitalizing & strengthening the rural and aims to reposition the rural within wider
society (e.g. urban areas, national interests, etc.)
Based on natural resources : agricultural activities, clean environment, protection of
cultural heritage, scenic amenities
Rural development approach
Value of self-reliant to reframe rural development in developing countries
Sector policy territory
Biogas policy
Energy (sector) policy rural development approach
Case study : Cibodas Village (desa) in West Bandung District (Kabupaten Bandung
Barat)
Project : Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme (IDBP) or better known as BIRU
(Biogas Rumah).

Introduction

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Methodology

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Study Area

Cibodas Village is located under the administration of Lembang Sub-District

(kecamatan).
Largest land use is agriculture (433.72 ha), plantation (351 ha), and settlement
(111.5 ha).
10,112 inhabitants or 3,056 households, 66% of those are farmers households.
The main source of income : horticulture farmers.
All of the households have electricity access, 89% of them are provided by the
National Electricity Company (PLN)
CIBODAS

Methodology

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Analytical Framework

Built upon the concept of self-reliant rural development

Endogenous potentials as basis for its development, without relying much on urban
area
Does not necessarily mean rural area should be self-sufficient
Exogenous factors are considered existed and should be managed to strengthen
endogenous factors and support rural development as whole.
Internal resource flow : interlinked within endogenous resources

Data Collection and Analysis

Conducted participant observation approach, the researcher is directly involved as active

agents and sources of information, participate actively participating in learning process
directly, or be passive recipients of information.
Direct involvement of the researcher has been conducted since 2010.

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

Result
Policy Background

No

Time

Description

1981

With the support of FAO, Ministry of Agriculture started the construction of fixed dome type
of biogas digesters in several provinces including West Java

1991

The Presidential Decree (Keppres) 43/1991 on Energy Conservation was the first policy
giving more attention to renewable energy source, including biomass

2006-2010

Energy Village Program (DME) at district/city level

2006-2010

BATAMAS program (Biogas Originally Livestock via Community Collaboration) and Rural
Bio-Energy Program (BEP) which were initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture

2008-2013

West Java Common Goals Development Plan 2008-2013 or Local Regulation of West
Java Energy Master Plan 2008-2013

2009 - Now

Indonesian Domestic Biogas Programme (IDBP)

2012

West Java Regional Action Plan on Mitigation of Green House Gases (West Java
Governor Decree 56/2012)

Result

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

IDBP and the Development Process in Cibodas Village

In 2009, Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme Programme (IDBP) or better known as

BIRU (Biogas Rumah) is entering Indonesia, including West Java
Funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy and it is supported fully by the Directorate
General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Energy and
Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia
IDBP/BIRU program offers a system of credit financing for milk cow breeders wanting to
build biogas reactor. In addition to credit, IDBP/BIRU also offers subsidy program of IDR
2 million to all types of biogas reactor (4 m3, 6 m3, 8 m3 and 12 m3) construction
The credit payment is conducted by cutting off the payment of milk to the cooperative
(KPBSU).
In IDBP/BIRU program, KPSBU functioned as credit channel for farmers in Lembang and
it is facilitated by HIVOS to access credit from Rabobank with low interest rates. Rabo
Foundation has signed credit assistance for KPSBU-Lembang through Rabobank with
amount up to IDR 4.5 billion for the construction of 1,000 units of IDBP/BIRU digesters,
which has ran since August 2010 in Lembang.
In the end of 2010 : initiative to re-process of bio-slurry (residual of biogas) to be used as
organic fertilizer and pesticide

Result

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014

IDBP and the Development Process in Cibodas Village

One of the groups having utilized bio-slurry (residual produced through biogas process)
as organic fertilizer and pesticide is farmers in Kampung Areng, Cibodas Village.
re-processed bio-slurry into organic fertilizer and pesticide. The products are used for
own farming as well as are sold to others.
The success story of this product disseminated to their neighbors and some of
them interested to try
The re-processing of bio-slurry in Kampung Areng was reinforced by IDBP/BIRU by
adding the re-processing as assistantship program of biogas digester application.
IDBP/BIRU conducted socialization program to implement that method. This socialization
was not only done in Cibodas Village, but also in other areas where IDBP/BIRU biogas
digester program is being implemented.
The development of bio-slurry products does not stop at the production methods, but
continues to develop by building production house.

Discussion

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014 10

Biogas and Its Relation to Rural Development

Aspect
Biogas
Infrastructure Alternative access of energy for cooking
and lighting (alternative of State Electrici
ty Company / PLN)
Economy
Reducing cost of buying energy (LPG) f
or cooking
Reducing cost of paying for electricity (li
ghting)
Environment Preventing of releasing of GHG emissio
n to the atmosphere
Preventing of cow manure disposal into
drain (which later flows into the river) / ri
ver pollution
Preventing illegal logging (wood for cook
ing)

Bio-slurry
Alternative access of farming inputs,
particularly fertilizer and pesticide (r
eplacing chemical inputs)
Reducing cost of buying farming (ch
emical) inputs
Creating additional income (by sellin
g fertilizer)
Preventing of disposal of biogas wa
ste into drain (which later flows into
the river) / river pollution
Increasing quality of soil and preven
ting eutrophication of water

Discussion

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014 11

Discussion

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014 12

Institution and Entrepreneurship as Driver of Change

The resources do not work alone : are influenced by less tangible resources =
institution & entrepreneurship
Institution has played a basic role on how biogas development has given multi-aspect
benefits to rural development.
Institution : rule of game
SNV-HIVOS has created the rule of game as the key of success to link natural and
human-cultural resources in biogas development through IDBP/BIRU
Socio-technical co-development
Internalization of IDBP/BIRU biogas development as an non outsiders program:
Construction of biogas digester is done not as free grant (moral hazard)
Quality guarantee by providing 2-3 years warranty and ensuring the durability
of digester up to 20-30 years (building trust)
Training people to receive minimum standard (farmers and SNV-HIVOS
partners)
Interconnecting related actors to work together (KPBSU, local leader) (building
trust)

Discussion

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014 13

Institution and Entrepreneurship as Driver of Change

In contrast to institution which has been built upon the mixture of exogenous and
endogenous factors, entrepreneurship in developing bio-slurry is purely derived from
endogenous actor.
The entrepreneur is a woman living in Kampung Areng (a part of Cibodas Village) and
also working as a farmer
End of 2010 : initiated re-process bio-slurry through vermi composting
Built a simple composting house with her own design.
a housewives group called as Kelompok Karya Ibu or Mothers Work Group in 2013
This entrepreneurship has brought SNV-HIVOS to make the success story of bio-slurry
development in Kampung Areng as national role model

Conclusion

Rural Research & Planning Program (RRPG) 2014 14

This study shows that the development of biogas and its externality (bio-slurry) has
generated rural development and created lesser dependence to external resources.
Biogas and its bio-slurry, to certain extent, have effectively addressed several issues of
rural development in Cibodas Village, mostly under the infrastructure, economy, and
environment aspects.
Institution and entrepreneurship have played critical role to link natural and humancultural resources and have acted as the driver of change.

Thank You.