Fuelwood Consumption & SupplySingida & Shinyanga Regions

Presentation at National Jatropha Conference

3rd March 2011Arusha

Bjarne LaustsenDirector - Kiwia & Laustsen Ltd

Fuelwood Survey Survey was carried out

in: Singida Rural District120 Households in 12 Subvillages Bariadi & Maswa

Districts120 Households in12 Subvillages

Survey method Interview of

households Weighing of fuel Observations

Fuelwood use Households use

many type of fuel Firewood Agricultural residues Charcoal CowdungIt depends on season,

availability and affordability

Firewood Consumption Average daily

firewood consumption per household:

Singida8 kg firewood Shinyanga24.5 kg firewood

Residues Consumption Average daily

Residues consumption per household

Singida11.5 kg residues Shinyanga29.4 kg

Differences in consumption Household sizeAverage household size Singida 6.5 members Shinyanga 10.2

members But still an average

household on 6.5 members in Shinyanga will use 15.6 kg firewood

Availability of Firewood Singida Rural Most villages have

Village forest, with some regulations.

In these forest harvesting are bigger than regrowth

Deforestation widespread.

Availability of Firewood Shinyanga Only in one village we

found forest, but very depleted.

Firewood is something, you can grow on fields

Or you buy firewood

Price of Firewood Prices of firewood in

Shinyanga are now 8 – 10 times higher than 10 years ago.

A ox chart load of firewood cost between 15,000 to 30,000 shillings

Use of Agricultural Residues Most households use

Agricultural residues in the dry season, some the whole year.

In some villages all residues are burnt up.

This lead to soil mining and loss of soil nutrients.

Low agricultural productivity

Cow dung Some households

even use cow dung as fuel

Euphorbia tirucalli Use of Minjar as

firewood are very common.

The smoke from that is very strong and poisonous

Health risk are very high

Sustainability The present fuelwood

supply and consumption are not sustainable

Deforestation Soil mining Health risk High cost