FUEL WOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERN IN BAUCHI STATE: A GUIDE FOR ENERGY PLANNERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper understudies fuel wood consumption pattern in Bauchi state. Ten local government areas were randomly selected for the research. Structured questionnaire was utilized as study instrument. Random sample of 98 respondents comprising of housewives, proprietors of bakeries, barbecues,  restaurants, and firewood sellers were used for the study. The collected data were analyzed using the chi-square (x²) statistical tool. Findings reveal that due to the high cost of fossil fuels, majority of the inhabitants of the state rely on fuel wood for their domestic energy. Forty two per cent of the respondents entirely depended on fuel wood as their source of energy, and 54% depended on both fuel wood and fossil fuels, while 2% depended entirely on fossil fuels. Also, in removing the fuel wood from the forest, 79.6% of the people removed only branches, and the remaining 20.4% clear felled the entire trees. The results also confirm that 48% of the people collected their stock from family farm lands, while 30.6% collected from open forest, 10.2% collected from forest reserves, and 11.2% bought theirs from the market. Further revealed is the fact that 4.1% of the respondents acquired their wood supply weekly, while 66.3% obtained theirs more than twice weekly, and 29.6% used fuel wood daily. None of the respondents used less than 50kg of fuel wood weekly, and 89.9% showed their willingness for   alternative energy sources if made available. Further more, among the various woody species that are used for fuel wood, nine are common, out of which three were found to be the most preferred species. The study particularly recommended that reforestation program should be intensified in the state, and alternative fuel resources should be provided for the people.