The government is stepping up efforts to promote clean cooking in rural communities, targeting women with education on safer and more sustainable alternaatives to firewood and charcoal.
The latest initiative reached participants at the National Forum for Rural Women in Kilolo District, Iringa Region, where the Ministry of Energy highlighted the health and environmental benefits of switching to cleaner cooking technologies.
The campaign comes amid efforts to expand the use of clean cooking energy in households, particularly in rural areas where traditional fuels remain an important part of everyday cooking.
Speaking at the forum, Ministry of Energy geologist Nsajigwa Mwambumbuli urged residents to prioritise clean cooking, saying the transition was important for reducing the challenges associated with polluting fuels and protecting the environment.
He encouraged Kilolo residents to adopt clean cooking options available in their localities, including alternative charcoal and other suitable cooking technologies, to make the transition more accessible to households.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the alternatives available to communities and encourage households to make informed choices based on the technologies and fuels accessible in their areas.
Beyond environmental protection, the transition to cleaner cooking is also relevant to women's daily lives, given their role in household food preparation and the time and resources required to secure traditional cooking fuels.
Meanwhile, Iringa Regional Commissioner's Office Head of Community Development, Saida Mgeni, urged women to move away from firewood and conventional charcoal and embrace clean cooking energy.
She said adopting cleaner cooking methods could also complement efforts to empower women economically, encouraging them to participate in various women's empowerment groups operating in the district.
Ms Mgeni stressed the need for rural women to embrace affordable, modern cooking technologies that protect the environment, adding that changing household energy practices was an important step towards improving their livelihoods.
The forum provides a platform to discuss the contribution of rural women to production, household welfare and national development, as the country pursues its long-term development ambitions.
The National Forum for Rural Women is being held under the theme: “Rural Women: A Force for Production, a Catalyst for Welfare and National Development Towards Vision 2050.”