Samuchit Enviro Tech Pvt Ltd is a commercial partner of Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI), a leading internationally acclaimed NGO, working in the field of household energy and IAP mitigation. Samuchit's mission is to capture maximum “Share of Kitchen” of rural, semi-urban & urban poor households in terms of sustainable, energy & cost efficient cooking devices and bio-energy fuels. Its goal is to reach 10% of the rural and semi-urban population of India by 2020, and in the process, generate sustainable livelihoods and improve quality of life by reducing indoor air pollution (IAP), primarily for the rural populace. It has been operational since 2006. Samuchit was the pioneer in commercial selling (as opposed to giving away free or subsidizing) improved cooking stoves and biogas systems in India. At present, Samuchit offers the widest product range as compared to any other company/NGO anywhere in the world, working for reducing IAP.
Contact Information
Our Focus
Samuchit's operations are currently focused in Maharashtra and Karnataka states of India. However, some of the products have reached elsewhere in India and some have also been exported to other countries in Asia and Africa. Samuchit offers a diverse range of products to suit the domestic thermal energy needs of rural as well as urban low and medium income households and small food-based businesses. From 2006 to 2010, Samuchit has sold in open market 25,000 products that lead to reduction in IAP in both household as well as commercial kitchens. These include wood fueled, fixed cookstoves, wood and charcoal fueled portable cookstoves, small and large biogas plants operating on kitchen/food waste, etc. Because of Samuchit's experience in working with primarily rural people and organisations, Samuchit is now also acting as a consultant and managerial service provider to other private organisations (for-profits as well as not-for-profits) embarking on projects/activities linked with environmentally sustainable initiatives.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
Samuchit has to fight several barriers in convincing potential customers to purchase its products. 1. The link between IAP and adverse health impact is not recognised by the potential customers. 2. Gender biases - the men who spend the money, are not willing to spend on something that will apparently only benefit the women of the household. 3. The aspiration of low income households is for LPG. 4. The 'subsidy hangover' from the previous programme run by Government of India still persists in rural areas.
After trying a variety of approaches, Samuchit has finally realised that the only effective approach is to directly reach out to the end customers. Thus, the emphasis of marketing activities is on live demonstrations and sale in public gatherings, and through exhibitions both in rural and urban areas. Future plans include establishing a chain of Samuchit Stores in main market hub towns, and using mobile vans as vehicles of publicity, promotion, sale and after sale service. Finance is being sought for implementing this model.
Samuchit at present is marketing technologies that have already been standardised by ARTI. Samuchit also intends to continue the same relationship where the R&D expertise of ARTI will be used for product/technology development and standardisation.
IAP exposure and health monitoring data on the products is certainly useful, though actually carrying out the studies is outside the scope or capacity of Samuchit at this point in time. It relies on its R&D partner ARTI to provide the relevant data.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
We would be happy to share our experience of trying to sell IAP reducing solutions in rural as well as urban markets in developing countries. We also offer our products to reduce IAP in other countries, wherever the products are found to suit the local cooking practices. We are also interested in commercial tie ups as well as collaborations with other organisations in the partnership. We offer the benefit of our experience, expertise and contacts to others who wish to enter into 'green' business or welfare activities aimed at rural India.
