Why not use solar cookers?
Solar cookers, which concentrate sunlight directly to cook food, have been hailed as the clean alternative for cooking in the developing world. They do not cost anything to run as the energy from the sun in free and plentiful, especially in the tropics. However in many cases these cookers do not fit in with the life style of many societies in the developing world, and as a result, there has been a low take up rate. One of the biggest problems with the cookers is that it means cooking around midday, which does not coincide with the main family mealtime. It also requires working out of doors that reduces privacy, another cultural imperative, and as many women tend to work on land away from their home at this time, leaves the food open to theft. Solar cookers also will only cook a limited variety of foods and cannot be used for making flat bread. In some cases solar cookers are appropriate and do provide families with clean and affordable cooking.
