Community participation in tackling the Rural energy problem: a case study of Woodfuel in Ebutanyi sub-location, Vihiga District, Kenya

Abstract

The importance of woodfuel as a traditional source of energy and its increasing shortage in terms of supply and demand has made it necessary for a number of scholars to assess the situation in many parts of the world. Notwithstanding the several studies done and solutions suggested, the problem is still looming high. The central argument, therefore is that a new approach to the fuel wood crisis urgently needed. This new approach as articulated by, inter alia, Chambers et.al (1989), (1988), Hosier (1988) and Soussan (1988) Hall (1983), Chambers emphasizes that it is imperative to listen to the local people who are the intended beneficiaries of any project and that it is essential for project planners to recognize and understand the methods that local farmers have evolved and adopted for managing rural development including tree planting. It was on the basis of this approach that the study was undertaken to involve the Ebutanyi sub-location community in the identification of viable ways of tackling the wood fuel problem. The study presupposes that the energy problem in the rural areas can be effectively handled if the people themselves will be involved in identifying viable ways-ways within their reach of tackling the problem first and foremost before any other step is taken. In essence, the rural energy problem should not be looked at in isolation but as an intricate aspect of rural poverty. Although the study area lies in a high agricultural potential area, data analysis revealed a weak household economic base that was reflected by low income levels, occupation structures, low energy use technology and the agricultural practises that were in place. This trend has greatly impaired the farm households to ability afford alternative energy sources which has resulted in overdependence on fuelwood. It was on the basis of these weak economic base that the community advocated strongly for the adoption of energy saving technologies and supply enhancing programmes like agro-forestry as not just short term intervention approaches but also the most important step. As a long term measure energy diversification should be encouraged through programmes that will increase income levels of the people hence be able to afford alternatives like solar, biogas or electricity,. Finally, it must be realised that the approach to the alleviation of woodfuel shortage should be a package deal geared at alleviating rural poverty.