Social, economic and ecological contributions of charcoal production and sales to peoples’ livelihood of Karongi district

Abstract

Biomass uses accounts for 98.5% of the country's primary energy needs. Of this, firewood accounts for 57.0%, charcoal for 23%, along  with smaller amounts of crop residues, peat, and other materials totaling 60.0% and 14.0%, respectively (Hakizimana E et al., 2020). The  study aimed at assessing the socio-economic, contributions of charcoal production and sales to peoples livelihood was conducted in  three sectors Mutuntu, Twumba and Rwankuba of Karongi district. The study also was conducted under three specific objectives; i)  Identify Tree species size and Charcoal production methods adopted in the study area ii) Examine Socio-economic, and Ecological impact  of Charcoal Production and Selling Cooperatives, iii) Perform Benefit - Cost Analysis (BCA) between Charcoal Selling Price and Production  Cost. A sample of 200 households was selected from the study area using Yemane formula, With SATATA, the Regression Analysis was  made to determine the correlation among independent and dependent variables. The findings indicated that 64.5% of trees were  harvested at diameter class ranging from 10 to 20 cm of DBH and Traditional Charcoal Production Method is applied at 95%. Casamance’s  BCR is greater than the one of Tradition Method with 2.7 and 1.5 respectively. It was also found that P – values obtained on  both Social, Economic and Ecological aspects are less than 0.05. Charcoal Production and Selling makes positive significant improvement  in Social and Economic impact on peoples’ livelihood and ecologically to the sustainability of forests of Karongi District especially in the  study areas.