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
