Fuel choices in rural Maharashtra

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWe report on and analyze the results of an energy use survey in two tribal villages in rural Maharashtra, India. Though there is significant heterogeneity between the effects of the variables in the two villages there are some robust results. We find modest evidence for the 'energy ladder' hypothesis and that use of higher quality energy sources reduces total energy use, ceteris paribus. Income elasticities of fuel use are small. Additionally, we demonstrate that household size, stove ownership, and season influence energy choices.However, the effects of improved stoves are small and not consistent across the villages.

Indian Farmers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Supply Surplus Biomass to an Envisioned Biomass-Based Power Plant

“…Over 60% of the famers in the surveyed districts in Tamil Nadu produce from one to five tons of biomass annually, and over 60% of the farmers in the surveyed districts in Tamil Nadu state wish to sell their surplus biomass in a price range of 1000-3000 Rupees per ton (12-37 Euros/ton). Differences in biomass prices among the states are a reflection of the biomass supply and demand nexus in varying climate conditions that, to a large extent, determine the scale of biomass availability and the degree of local consumption at the farm and household level [3,7].…”

“…Public policies aimed at increasing the use of biomass for energy production purposes must be dynamic, aim at elevating the farmers' socio-economic status and crafted in a broader framework that accommodates socially-driven factors in biomass use for household activities (caste, education, religion, income, etc.) [7,11,13]. The government of India can itself play the role of the middleman by setting fair biomass prices on annual/seasonal bases and purchasing biomass from farmers in a district-wise terminal setup.…”

“…In rural India, agricultural biowastes serve as cleaner cooking facilities, lightening and better livelihoods for millions [6,7]. This of particular importance in the Indian context, since 33% of India's population has no access to grid-based electricity [3,7].…”

“…Globally, bioenergy is receiving robust policy momentum to mainly revalorize the underutilized biomass/biowastes resources to deliver energy services to poor people, not only for domestic use, but also to generate income, also known as productive uses of energy [5]. In rural India, agricultural biowastes serve as cleaner cooking facilities, lightening and better livelihoods for millions [6,7]. This of particular importance in the Indian context, since 33% of India's population has no access to grid-based electricity [3,7].…”

New methodological approach for biomass resource assessment in India using GIS application and land use/land cover (LULC) maps

“…Moreover, the World Bioenergy Association has estimated the potential of agricultural residues for energy to be between 13.1 and 122 EJ [1]. However, effective utilization of surplus biomass resources is often challenged and sometimes hindered by seasonal availability and by climate factors (precipitation), extensive distribution [5][6][7], and by embedded and often neglected socio-cultural factors associated with traditional fuel choices and uses [8]. Therefore, the creation of maps for the assessment of available and surplus biomass resources, while accommodating socio-cultural factors, is a quintessential step toward the creation of a new supply chain for cost-effective bioenergy production.…”