Speaking to Cameroon Tribune recently in Yaounde, the Country Director, Dr Njakoi Henry, said the experiment will be conducted in the South West and Littoral Regions where there are large concentrations of pig farmers who are located close to the market in Douala.

"Producing biogas using pig manure is quite challenging because you need much of it to supply biogas digesters. It has worked well with poultry and dairy cow manure, and we now want to try pig manure," said the Heifer International Cameroon boss. He however, pointed out that appropriate dimensions of biogas digesters have to be determined in order to ensure the success of the project.

According to AllAfrica.com, Heifer has for some time been promoting the use of renewable energy from animal and vegetable manure for the production of biogas as part of its efforts to boost environmental protection.

For now, such activities are concentrated in the Western highlands (North West and West Regions) because the conditions that enhance the technology are already in place.

"We work with dairy cattle farmers because the animals are confined to stables. This ensures that much animal manure is produced on the spot," he explained.

Dr Njakoi said that Heifer participated in the pilot phase of the biogas project by partnering with the Dutch Development Organisation, SNV. An American Peace Corps volunteer who will soon be joining Heifer in the Far North Region will help to promote the use of biogas.

Other environment-friendly technologies to be promoted by him in the region are the protection of water sources through tree planting and the use of energy-saving stoves.

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. It is used for cooking and lighting. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas.

Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel. Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material and crops.