Analysis of factors determining fuelwood use for cooking by rural households in Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Rural household energy consumption survey data collected between September 2009 and January 2010 was utilised to investigate the socio-economic fact ors determining fuelwood use for cooking by rural households in Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors affecting the likelihood of con suming fuelwood in the study area. The notable soci oeconomic factors driving fuelwood consumption were found to be poverty factors such as low education, high household size and low wealth of fa rmers. Increase in the income of poor households as well as access to alternative, affordable renewable energy system and cleaner fuels would help in reducing fuelwood consumption leading to reduction in pollution, deforestation and on a more general level, mitigate adverse effects of fuelwood consump tion on the environment .