The document discusses improved water and energy technologies for rural Nepal. It describes the hydraulic ram pump (hydram) which uses flowing water to lift and deliver water, reducing costs compared to diesel or electric pumps. It is used for household water and small-scale irrigation. The improved water mill increases efficiency of traditional mills for grinding grain and powering other machines. It benefits millers and users. Solar dryers supported by CRT/N save women time by drying food and heating water. The improved cookstove program informs communities and tests stoves to reduce fuel use by 25% and cooking time by 44%.

1. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 1
Background
Two-thirds of Nepal's total population belongs to
the hilly region in Nepal and their settlements are
usually remote and sparse. Such settlements cannot be
easily served with conventional piped water systems.
The installation, fuel and maintenance of conventional
pumping systems using fossil fuel (diesel or gasoline) or
other forms of energy such as electrical or solar driven
pumps are usually unaffordable for poor, remote
communities. In this context, rural people, especially
women and children, have to walk for hours to distant
springs for collecting water for household purposes. In
addition, managing water for irrigation purpose is still a
big challenge.
Hydram as a Solution
The Hydraulic Ram Pump (Hydram) is a mature
technology existing since 18th century. It uses the
power available in flowing water, dropped from height
of few meters, to lift certain volume of the water to
much greater height. As the technology only uses the
power of flowing water resource that is free, its
operating costs is very low. Moreover, Hydram can
also be considered as a 'zero emission'' technology.
With the advancement in the design, the technology
can be manufactured in the country, easily operated
and maintained by the rural communities. The system
may cost over USD 5000 depending upon size and
capacity of the system.
In developing countries, the Hydram is typically used to
deliver water for household use (drinking and
sanitation) in rural communities where people have to
collect and carry water manually from a distant source.
It is also used for small and medium scale irrigation in
many developing countries. This system can also
support other income generating activities such as
cattle rearing, fish farming and bio-fertilizer production.
Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N) has
adopted an appropriate hydraulic ram pump system
based on the patented technology of Alternative
Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI), the
Philippines. AIDFI has eight different designs of ram
pump of various sizes and intake rates (10 to 1300 litres
per minute) that are suitable for different heads, flow
rates and delivery heights. Usually, for small schemes,
an individual pump is installed but for larger schemes
multiple pumps are connected in parallel or in series
depending on the head and flow rate. The pump can
operate continuously lifting water up to 200 metres
high and delivering water in a reservoir at the village,
which normally will be filled up overnight and used up
throughout the day.
Hydram as Irrigation Technology
Water pumped by Hydram is used for household
purpose including sanitation and irrigation. Generally,
water supplied by the system is used in micro-irrigation
especially for vegetable farming. The Hydram can
operate even during the dry months supplying water
for vegetable crops. This serves to be additional yield
and income for the farmers compared to their usual
harvest. Further, the Hydram can also be used to
supplement rice and cereal cultivation during erratic or
insufficient rains. This will help the farmers adapt to the
changing climate and allow more reliable returns.
Access to water can boost economic development in
the community and also support livelihood
development, such as brick making or types of agro-
processing.
One Hydram of 4 inch can irrigate approximately 20
ropanies (approx. 1 hectare) of land. A single Hydram
can pump approximately 28,000 to 250,000 litres of
water per day. Over a 110 day crop growing period,
the system can deliver an estimated irrigation water
amount of nearly 300 mm (or about 3 mm per day) to
the 20 ropanies of land.
CRT/Ne-news
Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal
Towards Action for Development… Since 1989 February 2012, Vol. 2 No. 18
Hydram a Solution to Livelihood Enhancement

2. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 2
Hydram as a Solution to Gender Needs
Nepalese society perceives water fetching activity as
mainly women's responsibility. Household works are
traditionally on the shoulder of women and caring of
family is a household domain, which is where women
mean to confine their works. "Water and energy… are
activities that take up an enormous amount of women’s
time and pose a major bottleneck to their productivity
as well as their contribution to society as care providers.
By addressing these bottlenecks, women can bring
about improvements in all-round quality of life for their
household and themselves. It can help them meet the
practical needs (ensuring daily survival) of the women
and also addressed their productive needs (income
generation and increased economic capabilities), as
well as their strategic needs (position in society, in
particular to gain greater equality with men, and help
toward their empowerment)." (Women, Energy and
Water in the Himalayas, UNEP/ICIMOD) This saving in
time must be harnessed by integrating other support
mechanisms (such as credit mobilization, skill
development training, and institutional development
training). Uplifting of water saves many hours which
reduces drudgery and the time spent collecting water.
This, in return, can allow more time for children to
study, and adults to spend on livelihoods or social time.
Author: Dinesh Adhikari, Engineer
Contact: dinesh@crtnepal.org
(This article may not necessarily reflect views of CRT/N.)
Improved Water Mill (IWM)
The Improved Water Mill (IWM) is a modified version of
traditional water mill. IWM is an intermediate
technology that increases the efficiency of the
traditional water mill resulting in increased energy
output thus helping both the millers and its users. The
improvement covers basically the replacement of
wooden parts (rotor, shaft and chute) with metallic
parts. This increases its operational efficiency as well as
makes it more useful with additional machines for
hulling, oil expelling, saw milling, lokta beating, and
electricity generation. The chute is mostly wooden,
however, sometimes is made of polyethylene or tin
sheet.
The speed of IWM shaft ranges around 200-300 rpm
depending upon the head and flow of water and the
power output ranges from 0.5 kW to 3 kW. Its grinding
capacity ranges from 20-50 kg/hr (maize) while the
traditional mill only grinds 10-20 kg of maize per hour.
The repair/maintenance cost is reduced after
installation of IWM and its life span can be maximized
up to 10 years.
The IWM exists in short shaft (SS) and long shaft (LS)
versions. The selection of whether to install a SS or LS
also depends on availability of water power. The length
of a SS is 4ft whereas that of LS is 6ft. A SS IWM is used
for grinding only while a LS IWM has diverse end-uses
of its power. Having a longer shaft, the LS IWM can run
a number of machineries transferring its power through
suitable couplings. Thus LS IWM has great versatility in
its final delivery of services. Though the installation cost
increases, a LS IWM provides opportunity for the
investors to diversify their business.
Technology
Sketch of an Improved Water Mill
Women Carrying Water to Meet Their Practical Needs

3. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 3
Solar Dryer Project
The Solar Dryer Project under the title "Women in
Drying Food and Heating Water Using Solar Dryer" is
undertaken by Centre for Rural Technology Nepal
(CRT/N) since October 1, 2010 with support form The
Lemelson Foundation, USA. The project has a target to
disseminate 75 units of cabinet type solar dryer among
the rural women in suburbs of Kathmandu with support
from Women Support Cooperative (WSC).
Participatory Assessment Report
CRT/N has conducted "Participatory Assessment" on
the impact of the cabinet solar dryer. The major
objective of the assessment is to get comprehensive
and integrated understanding of the project,
stakeholders involved and project implementation. The
assessment methodology followed data collection tools
such as semi-structured interview, phone interview,
field visit, observation, focus group discussion.
Based on qualitative and quantitative analysis, the
assessment concluded that behavioral change in using
solar dryer for heating water and drying food is seen
among technology users. The report also depicts that
the users benefited from the technology especially for
household purpose. Moreover, the technology proved
even more beneficial for those who took up home
business from solar dryer. It was found that the dryers
are being used for drying variety of food items such as,
meat, pulse nuggets, radish, spices, fruits and nuts,
cereal, bread crumbs, etc. The users are also utilizing
dryer to heat water which is used in making tea,
washing and bathing.
The project has been successful in disseminating 75
solar dryers to WSC members. The reasons of success
in meeting physical target of the project as highlighted
by the report are credit support from WSC and subsidy
delivery from Alternative Energy Promotion Centre
(AEPC). These approaches have made the solar dryers
affordable to the users.
Excerpt from Final Report: Gender Issues in Renewable (Rural) Energy Policies of Nepal, February 2011, CRT/N and
IAPH Forum with support from ENERGIA: International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy, the Netherlands.
Following analysis has been extracted here to highlight to what extent Subsidy Policy 2009 has addressed gender
concerns. - Editors
The subsidy policy has been formulated with the objective of enabling to rural poor and socially disadvantaged
people to access improved energy services. The Policy makes direct provisions for micro hydro, solar (home systems,
dryer, PV pumping and cookers), metal cook-stoves, biogas and wind technologies. Largely, the subsidies are decided
based on end use, sector (domestic, institutional and community) and geographical location. However, in case of
biogas programme additional subsidy has been announced for the “Poor, Dalit, Depressed, Conflict Affected” which
includes the poor women member group of the rural development banks.
The Subsidy Policy 2009 has been analyzed from gender perspective. The gender gaps identified from analysis are
presented in the Table 3.5 below.
Project Feature
Interview with Solar Dryer Users
Gender Mainstreaming in Energy

4. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 4
Table 3.5: Highlights of the Subsidy Policy 2009 Assessment
Policy Issues Addressed in the Policy Gender Gaps
General
statement
Increase development impact in terms of service delivery efficiency and
increased access to rural poor and socially disadvantaged to energy services
Socially disadvantaged
group includes
women, but this is not
clearly stated.
Objectives – To maximize service delivery efficiency in the use of renewable energy
resources and technologies in rural areas and to provide opportunity to
low-income rural households to use RETs
– To support rural electrification and to gradually reduce the growing gap of
electricity supply and consumption between rural and urban areas.
– To support development and extension of RET markets by attracting
private sector Entrepreneurs
– To support the envisaged long-term target of GoN in providing rural
electrification and energy services
– To make use of grant assistance provided by donors, existing and
forthcoming, in a more effective and objective way
Socially
disadvantaged group
including gender
disparity group are not
mentioned
Policy
statement
and subsidy
levels
Micro-hydro:
– Provision of subsidy for installation of new micro hydro plant and
rehabilitation of old ones
– Provision of subsidy for Micro-hydro providing community services.
– Provision of transport subsidy
– Additional financial support for productive use of energy.
Solar home system: subsidy provision based on geographical location, subsidy
on small solar system to get rid of kerosene wick lamps
Institutional solar PV system: subsidy based on community services provided
Solar water pump, solar cooker: subsidy general
Solar dryer: general subsidy for household and special preference for
commercial use and drying organic products
Biogas:
– Subsidy on the basis of capacity, geographical location, community benefit
(recently announced by the government), toilet attached
– Additional subsidy for poor, dalit, deprived women, and conflict affected.
– Provision of transportation subsidy for remote areas
IWM: subsidy for short shaft and long shaft and endues application
ICS: No subsidy for mud stove, provision of subsidy for metal stoves and
gasifiers
Wind technology: Financial support for research and development, for solar
and wind power hybrid system in rural areas with no access to grid line and
micro hydro power, subsidy provision for feasible electrification of small turbine
No consideration of
gender differences
Consideration of
health and hazard
resulting from the use
of kerosene wick
lamps
Subsidy provision
considering ownership
of systems by women
also women headed
households
Subsidy
delivery
procedure
Institutional credit mechanism established under Rural Energy Fund so as to
maintain and expand service delivery sustainability in RET sector

5. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 5
Improved Water Mill Programme
Initiated in 2003, the Improved Water Mill (IWM)
Programme has now been executed by the Alternative
Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) since 2011 under its
Energy Sector Assistance Programme (ESAP). CRT/N is
the technical service provider of the programme.
Programme Initiation Workshop
A one-day "Programme Initiation Workshop" was
organized to newly pre-qualified local partner
organizations (LPOs) and kit manufacturers in Surkhet
district on 29th
January 2012 under IWM Programme. A
total of about 50 members including CRT/N Field
Facilitators (FFs), LPOs, Ghatta Owners Association
(GOAs) and IWM kit manufacturers, representatives
from District Development Committee/District Energy
and Environment Unit (DDC/DEEU) and Sundar Nepal
(RRESC of ESAP) participated at the workshop.
The workshop was conducted with an objective to
aware the local stakeholders about the IWM
Programme objectives, strategies, approaches
activities, and also to seek support, co-operation and
participation from them in programme
implementation. The workshop also highlighted about
possibility of integrating Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) on IWM Programme and its practical
implementation; roles and responsibilities of LPOs,
GOAs and IWM kit manufacturers. The workshop
enhanced the capacity of the participants to coordinate
with the IWM Programme stakeholders. The workshop
was facilitated by Mr. Madan Thapaliya, Programme
Manager of IWM Programme; Mr. Tej Bahadur Oli and
Mr. Pitamber Pandey, Programme Officers and other
Field Facilitators.
Improved Water Mill Installation Training
Seven-day "IWM Installation Training to the Staff of
New LPOs" was conducted in Surkhet district from 30
January – 5 February 2012. Altogether, 19 technicians
from newly pre-qualified LPOs from 14 districts
participated the training.
The main objective of the training was to build the
capacity of technical staffs of newly pre-qualified IWM
LPOs by imparting knowledge and practical skills on
different aspects of operation, repair and maintenance
of IWM. Theoretical and practical knowledge about the
feasibility, technical survey as well as installation of
IWM was also provided to the participants. The training
was facilitated by Mr. Tej Bahadur Oli, Mr. Pitamber
Pandey, Programme Officers, Mr. Ghanshyam Poudel,
Programme Assistant and Mr. Deepak Raut, Field
Facilitator.
Biomass Energy Support Programme
The Regional Rural Energy Service Centre (RRESC)
Kathmandu of Biomass Energy Support Programme has
carried out different promotional activities aimed to
Project Updates
Participants in Program Initiation Workshop
Participants Measuring Discharge Using Float Method
VDC level campaign in Pyutar VDC, Lalitpur

6. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 6
foster installation and use of Improved Cookstove (ICS)
in communities as part of its regular activities. In
January, 17 village development committee (VDC) level
information campaigns, 5 orientation and
demonstrations and 4 control cooking tests were
performed in five service districts, namely, Nuwakot,
Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Rasuwa and Kathmandu. VDC
level information campaign is designed to disseminate
relevant information regarding ICS and its benefits to
the users and also demonstrate different types of ICS.
Control cooking test is performed in ICS to evaluate its
performance. It is achieved in terms of parameters like
specific fuel consumption and cooking time. The results
vary according to place and time, however the tests
have revealed that an ICS consumes about 25% less fuel
(wood) and cooking is accomplished in around 44% less
time than in case of traditional stoves.
These activities have been successful in promoting
knowledge about ICS and its demand, and in some
cases have earned supports from local stakeholders.
Terai ICS Carbon Project
Review and Planning Meeting
An Annual Review and Planning Meeting of Terai ICS
Carbon Project was organized from 18-19 January 2012
in Kathmandu. Central and regional project team
participated in the meeting to review the activity plan
of 2012 based on experiences and learning of last year.
Mr. Rajan Thapa, representative of EGLURO, UK also
participated at the meeting providing valuable input
during action plan revision.
Promoting Renewable Energy
Technologies for Enhanced Rural
Livelihoods, Nepal
CRT/N initiated a two-year project on "Promoting
Renewable Energy Technologies for Enhanced Rural
Livelihoods, Nepal" (REFEL Project) from 1 December
2011 – 30 November 2013 in partnership with Finnish
Consulting Group Ltd., Finland with the support from
Nordic Environment Finance Cooperation (NEFCO)
within the framework of Nordic Climate Facility. Rural
Village Water Resources Management Project
(RVWRMP) is the main partner to facilitate at local
level. The objective of the project is to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, improve food security
situation and to improve the living conditions and
economic situation of rural population in remote
districts via application of renewable energy
technologies.
Orientation/Training for Project Staffs
Eight-day orientation training was organized under the
REFEL project to newly recruited project staffs at
CRT/N, from 16-23 January 2012. A total of 7 members
comprising Regional Field Coordinator, Regional
Account/Administration Assistant, District Field
Coordinators for Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Doti, Kailali and
Achham districts participated at the orientation
training.
The orientation training was conducted with an
objective to orient newly recruited staffs about the
renewable energy technologies, strengthen the
knowledge of staffs on installation, repair and
maintenance of ICS, IWM, Hydram and build the
capacity of staffs so that they can orient about RETs on
their own. The orientation training was jointly
facilitated by various experts from CRT/N and RVWRMP
on introduction to the project and different IWM, ICS
and Hydram technology, gender integration in
renewable energy technology, green house gas
reduction, food security and livelihood enhancement
and community mobilization.
Participants from Central and Regional Project Team
Participants during practical session in Dhading

7. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 7
As part of orientation training, the participants visited
Dhading district to observe IWM, ICS and Hydram
technologies. The participants were provided with
hands-on knowledge on construction of ICS, repair and
maintenance of ICS, IWM and Hydram technologies
during the session.
Central Level Introductory Meeting
CRT/N organized "Central Level Introductory Meeting"
under REFEL Project on 8th
February 2012 at CRT/N
with related stakeholders/line agencies. The objective
of the meeting was to introduce and share about
project and seek cooperation and coordination from
the partners/stakeholders for successful
implementation of the project.
Altogether 20 participants from Alternative Energy
Promotion Center (AEPC), Department of Local
Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads
(DOLIDAR), Rural Village Water Resources Management
Project (RVWRMP II) and CRT/N participated in the
meeting. The participants provided valuable inputs at
the meeting that are important in implementing the
project.
Workshop on "Earthquake Risk in
Kathmandu - Are We Prepared?"
A one day national workshop on "Earthquake Risk in
Kathmandu - Are We Prepared?" was jointly organized
by the Department of Urban Development and Building
Construction (DUDBC), Center of Resilient Development
(CoRD), UN-Habitat and DP-NET on the occasion of
Earthquake Safety Day 2068 on 27th
January, 2012.
The main objective of the workshop was to review
lesson learned from earthquake occurred on 18th
September 2011 (Asoj 01, 2068 BS) in Eastern Nepal,
other earthquakes in the recent past in the world and
to identify strengths, gaps and challenges for
earthquake risk mitigation. Mr. Subarna Kapali, Acting
Director of CRT/N, participated at the workshop.
Interaction on Indoor Air Pollution in Nepal
Indoor Air Pollution and Health Forum (IAPHF), Nepal
organized a talk programme on 8th
February 2012. Mr.
Samuel Neal Shiroff, Business Development Director
from BSH-Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH,
Germany and Dr. Agnes Klingshirn from GIZ visited
Practical Action Nepal to discuss about the indoor air
pollution problem in Nepal and current initiatives of
forum members. Mr. Subarna Kapali, Acting Director of
CRT/N, shared on 'CRT/N's Initiatives on Household
Energy and Indoor Air Pollution Reduction' at the
interaction programme. There was also experience
sharing from other presenters on IAP issues.
Orientation Programme for Manufacturer
Companies and RRESCs
The Biomass Energy Support Programme of AEPC/ESAP
organized a two day "Orientation Programme for
Manufacturer Companies and RRESCs" from 18-19
January in Lalitpur district. Altogther 11 manufacturer
companies and 3 RRESCs were oriented on new
Metallic Improved Cookstove (MICS) models, their
manufacturing and installation process, revised subsidy
delivery mechanism, monitoring mechanism and
compensation calculation for deviated cases. During
the programme, various aspects of shifting biomass
energy technologies to CDM carbon projects and roles
and responsibilities of RRESCs and manufacturer
companies were also explored. Mr. Damodar Karki,
Regional Coordinator, Mr. Roshan Adhikari, Biomass
Energy Engineer of RRESC Kathmandu managed by
CRT/N, participated on the programme.
Enterprising Ideas at Eco-Fair 2012
Himal Media Pvt. Ltd. held “1st
Nepali Times Eco-fair
2012” at Academy Hall, Kamaladi from 11-12 February
2012 to promote environmental friendly technologies
and solutions. Centre for Rural Technology Nepal
(CRT/N) along with its sister concern Rural Energy
Nepal Highlights
Participants in the Meeting

8. CRT/N e-news, February 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18 8
Technology Service Centre (RETSC) Pvt. Ltd.
participated in the Eco-Fair 2012 demonstrating
Parabolic Solar Cooker, Solar Dryer, IWM, Rocket Stove
and Hydram technologies.
Students and young energy enthusiasts seemed
fascinated by the demonstration of Hydram, which can
be an appropriate technology for the geographically
difficult areas of rural Nepal, deprived of proper water
supply for drinking and irrigation. Moreover, Solar
Dryer and Parabolic Solar Cooker also drew attention of
visitors.
During the two-day event, over 40 exhibitors offered
their innovations and information on solar
technologies, waste management, rainwater
harvesting, organic farming, electric vehicles and other
eco-friendly products. Among 10,000 plus visitors, most
of them were drawn towards the solar technologies on
display. As the chief spokesman of the fair and
publisher of Nepali Times, Mr. Kunda Dixit aptly put it
“It’s high time we start regarding these renewable and
eco-friendly technologies not as alternative, but
mainstream the technologies.”
Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD)
Program
Low Emission Asian Development (LEAD) Program
initiated by U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) is a five-year program designed to build
capacity and low emission strategy GHG inventories
and accounting, and carbon market readiness in 11
countries including Nepal.
In this context, Forest Action Ne pal has assisted in
organizing a consultation meeting of relevant NGOs on
19th
January 2012 to discuss how the LEAD program
could provide support to Nepal. Mr. Subarna Kapali,
Acting Director participated at the meeting.
Heartfelt Condolence
CRT/N family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our staff Mr. Dhanashyam Ghimire on 23rd
February 2012.
We pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
CRT/N e-news Advisors: Ganesh Ram Shrestha, Executive Director
Vol. 2 No. 18, February 2012 Subarna Kapali, Acting Director
Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N) Editors: Babita Adhikari, Lachana Shresthacharya, Pratikshya Pradhan,
Kumaripati, Lalitpur. Programme Officers
PO Box 3628, Kathmandu. Nepal Assisted by: Kaushila Rai, Programme Assistant
Tel.: +977-1-5008536, 5008538. Fax: +977-1-5008537.
Email: info@crtnepal.org. Web: www.crtnepal.org
International Highlights
Recent Publication
Solar Dryer Manual
CRT/N has published "Solar Dryer Manual" targeting
solar dryer users to provide information on the
technology, process of drying food and heating water,
repair and maintenance and entrepreneurship
development. The manual has been produced under
"Women in Drying Food and Heating Water Using
Solar Dryer" Project.
Distinguished Guests at CRT/N
Mr. Venkata R. Putti, Ph.D., Programme Team
Leader, Energy Access, Energy Sector Management
Assistance Programme (ESMAP), The World Bank,
USA and Mr. Ashish Shrestha, World Bank,
Kathmandu made a visit to CRT/N on 20th
January,
2012 to know about household energy services in
context to Nepal.