In developing countries, rural populations lag far behind urban population in income, life style and quality of life. These rural populations make up 80% of the developing world’s population. For these rural, developing world populations, firewood, dung cakes and agricultural residues still constitute the main source of energy for cooking and heating purposes. It is the oldest, most widespread and practical form of energy available to them. They are the producer and user with the help of sun and rain.

Poor families without land holdings are negatively affected the most. They are forced to settle for low quality biomass as fuel. Poor quality biomass fuels include small branches and twigs and dry agricultural wastes. Woman tend to be affected most adversely, as they are tasked with finding fuels for cooking after finishing their normal jobs of farm labor.

After finally securing sufficient fuel for cooking, they then suffer the severe health affects of pollution from indoor fires. Studies have found that roughly 66% of firewood collection is done by woman. Children account for another 22%. These figures vary from country to country, but generally only by a few percentage points. Woman in rural settings generally do multiple activities, including the fetching of water, caring for family, looking after livestock, plus helping with the farm. They typically do their cooking in a simple u-shaped block of mud called Chula. Such a stove is common in most of the countries as well.