| dc.description.abstract | This study is a socio-economic analysis of the causes and effects
of the fuelwood scarcity in Bura Irrigation Settlement Scheme -
Tana River District. The main object ives were to exp lain:
factors that influence fuelwood consumption; the role of the
tenants' incomes in accentuating the fuelwood scarcity; the
influence of the apparent lack of energy conservation measures on
the fuelwood scarcity; the apparent tenant reluctance to plant
trees; if aspects of ownership determine the favourable approach
to tree planting; and the socio-economic effects of the fuelwood
scarcity.
The study population consisted of both male and female household
heads who have been settled as tenant farmers. At the time of
this survey, there were 1,983 tenant farmers, settled in ten
villages. The household was the unit of analysis and the tenant
household heads were the respondents. A total of 186
questionnaires were administered to both the suppliers and
consumers of firewood in the scheme's tenant co. munity.
Proportionate stratified random sampling was employed to cover
the ten occupied villages and 174 questionnaires were
administered. The remaining 12 respondents consisted of fuel
dealers and they were selected on a non-probabilit)" basis. The
research instrument consisted of a standardized interviewer
administered questionnaire made up of both closed and open-ended
questions. Beside~7 12 case-studies were carried out, spread out
to cover var10US levels of visible differences among tenant
families. Their selection was based on willingness to
participate and knowledge of the subject matter. Information was
gathered through lengthy discussions with the selected tenants.
The conversations centered on all aspects of life before and
especially in Bura.
Findings show that fuelwood consumption 1S influenced by
household size, consumers' age composition, level of education,
the scheme's agricultural calendar, personal awareness,
adaptation to the prevailing conditions and availability of and
accessibility to the resource area. It was largely indicated that
the poor incomes do not permit the use of available energy
conservation measures, they deter the tenants from cooking
lighter foods, they determine the availability of and
accessibility to required amounts of firewood, and they limit the
desire and ability to seek alternative fuels. The fuelwood state
was attributed to the observation that the type of jiko in use is
not a reflection of the prevailing conditions and the culturally
prescribed energy conservation measures do not find expression 1n
the Bura environment. The reluctance to plant trees was found to
be due to tenant disillusionment, lack of confidence in the
scheme, lack of personal land, low cotton earnings and thus lack
of long-term engagements in Bura, alongside the existence of
practical ties with origins. Successful tree planting was found
to depend on the participants' understanding of ownership, past
experience an-d -knowledge of tree growing. It was observed that the farmers tend to favour the individual approach. This fuelwood
scarcity was observed to have affected the tenants' way of life.
This was mainly in the changes brought about in the acquisition
and utilization of firewood, the traditional division of labour,
eating habits and prioritization of needs.
This study arrived at the conclusion that fuelwood scarcity in
Bura is a result of demographic and personal characteristics. the
socio-economic status of households, lack of energy conservation
measures. uncertainty about property rights. and the use of an
incompatible approach to tree growing. The scarcity has altered
the availability, accessibility, acquisition and utilization of
fuelwood in the Bura scheme. | en |
