ESTIMATION OF HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION INTENSITIES AROUND AND WITHIN MIOMBO WOODLANDS IN MOROGORO AND SONGEA DISTRICTS, TANZANIA

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate households’ fuel consumption intensities. Stratified random sampling design was used to select a total of 568 respondent households. Data was collected using pre-tested and pilot-tested questionnaires, direct measurements, direct observations, interviews and focus group discussions. A statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel computer programmes were used to analyse data. Results showed that 79.8% - 83.2% of households use firewood as energy source at a rate of 6.734 – 6.746 kg household^-1 day^-1, and they use charcoal as energy source at a rate of 3.336 – 3.344 kg household^-1 day^-1.  It is concluded that the household wood fuel consumption is of a sizeable intensity and has the highest contributory effect on total household energy consumption. There was a notable difference in the inter-strata wood fuel consumption. It is recommended that strata (location)-specific strategies would be appropriate in addressing wood fuels issues in the study area: “one-size-fits-all” approach in addressing wood fuel issues in the study area, whenever feasible, should be discouraged.