Influence of charcoal trade on livelihood of rural communities: a case of Mitamisyi location in Kusyo district of Kitui county.

Abstract

The study sought to find out the influence of charcoal trade on the livelihoods of the community in Mitamisyi Location, Kitui County, Kenya. The objectives that guided the study were earnings from charcoal, the technology and environment in charcoal production and the challenges faced by charcoal producers. The target population for the study was the charcoal producers in charcoal producer associations in the location. They were all one thousand five hundred in number. The simple random sampling method was used to pick the charcoal producers population. The sample size for the charcoal producers was ten percent of the population. The study employed the descriptive survey design. Data was collected by use of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics and thereafter presented by use of statistical means. The results were subjected to statistical tests which entailed chi-square tests and spear-man rank correlation order tests. The study found out that the charcoal producers considered the earnings from charcoal as inadequate to meet their daily needs. They considered the environment that they worked in as not adequate to guarantee them of sustainability in their industry and they had myriad challenges which included transport and the statutory regulations among others. The study thus concluded that the charcoal producers considered the earnings from the industry as inadequate. The technology they employed was equally considered as not up to the current standards and the regulatory framework was considered as an impediment to the growth of the industry. The study recommended that the charcoal producers should exploit their numbers in terms of the membership of the associations to better their fortunes. They should equally engage in massive reafforestation and employ the current best practices as regards the carbonization practices to have the best quality charcoal at minimal costs.