Abstract

The national energy balance indicates that traditional fuels (wood, charcoal, agricultural residues and animal waste) meet 94% of the total energy supplied and that the household sector accounts for 90% of the total energy consumed in the country. The vast majority of Ethiopian households depend on the open fire stoves with very poor fuel efficiency. Due to the shortage of firewood growing in Ethiopian communities, baking injera on open fire is becoming increasingly expensive. Currently Mirte injera baking stove has been produced and promoted to improve the livelihoods of the rural and urban households in the country. The major concern of this study was to identify the major shortcomings of the Mirte stove being promoted as perceived by the households: the case of Agarfa district, Oromia region. A two stage random sampling procedure was employed to draw 120 sample households from four sample Kebeles. Descriptive statistics were employed in the study. The results of the study showed that there are some major shortcomings of Mirte stove. The overall findings of the study underline the importance of strengthening institutions that can continuously following up the perceived shortcomings of Mirte stove and make necessary improvements and modifications on it. Thus, research should re-examine the shortcomings of the Mirte stove.

Key words: Injera, perception, shortcoming, stove, technology.