Shifting Patterns of Fuel and Wood Use by Households in Rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

A questionnaire survey of fuel and wood use was administered to approximately 1500 households in rural Zimbabwe in 1994 and repeated in 1999. The nine localities covered by the survey fell into four strata distinguished by woodland cover, distance from urban centres and whether communal or resettlement (ex-commercial farming) areas. Over time household assets increased, but incomes remained constant in all but one stratum. Simultaneously wood became scarcer according to respondents. In all four strata firewood consumption fell markedly between 1994 and 1999. This was partially, but not entirely, due to switches to other fuels, either electricity near towns or non-wood biomass fuel in deforested areas further from towns. In other areas, non-wood biomass fuels declined considerably. Kerosene use showed mixed patterns, with decreases in the numbers of consumers but increased rates of consumption. Wealthier households were more likely to use modern fuels such as kerosene for cooking, candles and electricity. The general reduction in firewood consumption entailed changes in collection practices and increased purchase of wood, but it is not clear how fuel use efficiency was improved by such a great margin. Utilisation of wood for construction also declined over the five year period.

Changing energy profiles and consumption patterns following electrification in five rural villages, South Africa

“…About 97% and 94% of households collected fuelwood in 1991 and 2002, respectively, while the percentage of households purchasing fuelwood rose from 27% in 1991 to 31% in 2002. The slight increase in the percentage of households purchasing fuelwood possibly indicates that there was an increase in fuelwood scarcity in the local environment around the settlements (Vermeulen et al, 2000), corroborated by the 12% increase (approx. 30 min) in mean duration of fuelwood collection trips (Fig.…”

“…Purchased fuelwood in these two settlements was more expensive than in the other three settlements. Despite the increase in fuelwood scarcity, the majority of households continued using wood as their main source of energy for thermal applications, as was reported by Vermeulen et al (2000) in Zimbabwe.…”

“…Over 60% of rural households are unelectrified. With increasing modernity and household income, it is argued that there will be a gradual shift towards more modern fuels such as paraffin, gas and electricity, in a typical energy transition dynamic (Alam et al, 1998;Vermeulen et al, 2000;Kituyi et al, 2001) following either an energy ladder pattern or a leapfrogging one.…”

“…Longitudinal studies with a clear baseline before electrification and that also included the full range of energy forms are scanty (e.g. Vermeulen et al, 2000). A few that are available are restricted to urban and peri-urban communities Palmer, 1999).…”

Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints

“…The decline in woodland resources translates into additional labour required to extract woodland products. In environments like Chivi in 1994 most households reported that it took under two hours for a firewood collection trip, while in 1999 it was more than two hours (Vermeulen et al 2000 -Chivi was one of the study sites). Romwe is more heavily wooded than Mutangi (Kwesha and Mapaure 2001).…”