Uptake of energy efficient cookstoves in Pakistan

Abstract This study attempts to identify the enablers that play an important role in the uptake of energy efficient cookstoves (EECs) in Chitral, Pakistan. For this purpose, primary data were collected from 390 households distributed across 20 villages. The ordered logit model is used to analyze the factors affecting the uptake of EECs in the study area. The findings show that the education level of the household head, landholding by the household, presence of organizations working to promote EECs, and media campaigns promoting EECs have a statistically significant influence on the uptake of EECs. Of these factors, the presence of NGO promoting EECs has the largest influence on EEC adoption as it increases the probability of switching from traditional cookstoves to EECs by 20.5% points. Media campaigns for promoting EECs increase the probability of switching to EECs by 14% points. The study concludes that socio-cultural and economic variables as well as efficient dissemination of information and promotion of EECs have a statistically significant relationship with the uptake of improved and clean cooking technology. Based on the findings, the study recommends that, to ensure successful dissemination, local needs and preferences of users of the area be taken into account when designing an EEC program.