The Indian population is highly dependent on wood-based energy. According to all indications, firewood would continue to be used in Indian villages as fuel because it is the least expensive fuel and is consistent with the cultural patterns and living habits of the rural population.
Sustainable and environmentally sound
In fact efficient use of wood fuel is much more eco-friendly than fuels such as kerosene and natural gas (LPG). LPG emits 15 times more CO2 (carbon dioxide) per kg than wood, and kerosene nearly 10 times as much.
Contrary to general belief, woodfuel is not a major cause of deforestation. Deforestation is mainly caused by commercial logging and pressure for more farmland. About two-thirds of all woodfuel comes from non-forest land. As long as wood burning is sustainable and doesn’t cause deforestation, its CO2 emissions are neutral – the CO2 released in the fire simply gets recycled back into more trees.
Possibility of migration to market fuel
The main question doing the rounds is whether with improvement in poverty level over the next 25 years, would many rural people prefer acquiring fuel from the market, rather than use their time and energy to collect it.
This is, however, unlikely as current trends don’t show much change in the share of purchased fuels in total fuelwood and dung cake consumption as incomes increase. If higher rate of firewood purchase is seen, it is on account of extreme deterioration of the natural environment, and is not linked with household prosperity.
Villages will be the last to adopt LPG on a large scale as it is still not sufficient to meet even urban demand. Kerosene is used mostly for lighting in villages and is rarely used for cooking. Villagers’ dependence on firewood is like to continue for an indefinite period as it is obtained almost free of cost.
Firewood still remains a cheap and commonly used fuel in India. Watch video:
