---
title: "Cattle Waste to Clean Energy: How Zakariyapura Transformed Through Biogas Cooperatives"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/zakariyapura-gujarat-biogas-women-cooperative-renewable-energy-apv3m
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
published: 2026-08-08T06:37:22.000Z
modified: 2026-08-08T15:32:21.053Z
language: en-IN
---

# Cattle Waste to Clean Energy: How Zakariyapura Transformed Through Biogas Cooperatives

A rural Gujarat community eliminated indoor air pollution and generated new income by installing 368 domestic biogas plants. This initiative led to the creation of India's first all-women organic fertilizer cooperative, converting agricultural waste into a monthly revenue stream.

## Key takeaways

- Every cattle-owning household in Zakariyapura now utilizes a biogas plant for clean cooking energy.
- A new all-women cooperative generates up to Rs 5,000 monthly per family by selling processed organic slurry.
- The transition to biogas has improved respiratory health and increased educational time for village girls.

## From Smoke to Sustainability

For generations, women in the village of Zakariyapura navigated the hazards of wood-fired kitchens, suffering from persistent respiratory issues and eye irritation caused by heavy smoke. These health burdens were compounded by the rising costs of LPG cylinders and the labor-intensive task of gathering firewood. A shift in the village's trajectory began when a resident named Madhuben observed a functioning biogas system in a nearby town and advocated for its implementation at home.

## The Logistics of Renewable Transition

Collaborating with the National Dairy Development Board, the village installed biogas plants for all 368 households that own cattle. The mechanics of the system are straightforward: a mixture of water and cattle dung undergoes anaerobic digestion to produce clean cooking gas. This transition removed the need for traditional stoves, significantly lowering household expenditures and reducing domestic friction caused by financial stress.

## Economic Impact of the Slurry Economy

The byproduct of these biogas plants, a nutrient-dense slurry, became the foundation for a new economic model. Zakariyapura established the first all-women manual cooperative in the country dedicated to processing and marketing this organic fertilizer. By selling this once-discarded waste, participating households now secure an additional monthly income ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.

## Long-term Social Gains

The efficiency of biogas has redistributed time within the household. With the burden of firewood collection removed and cooking times reduced, younger girls in the village have gained more hours to dedicate to their schooling. The model demonstrates how local waste management can address public health, education, and financial stability simultaneously.

## Key Facts

- 368 cattle-owning families in Zakariyapura now use individual biogas plants.
- The project replaces expensive LPG and wood fuel with methane produced from dung and water.
- Participating households earn between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 monthly from fertilizer sales.
- Zakariyapura hosts the nation's first all-women cooperative for processing organic slurry.

Source: The Better India

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/zakariyapura-gujarat-biogas-women-cooperative-renewable-energy-apv3m
Reported from: The Better India