DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF FUELWOOD IN THE JORHAT DISTRICT OF ASSAM - A CASE STUDY

摘要

A massive survey of demand and supply of fuelwood in the Jorhat District of Assam was conducted in 1999 and 2000. Stratified sampling technique was used in the study. Total supply and consumption of the fuelwood in the District is 470084 and 494103 tonnes per year respectively. About 24019 tonnes of fuelwood. which accounts for 5 per cent of total consumption, is found to be deficit. Per capita fuelwood consumption in the District is 466 kg. Out of the total supply, homestead contributes 79% while forest and bamboo stead contribute 8 and 13% respectively. A total of 35 different fuelwood species are being exploited for energy. It seems that there is acute scarcity of suitable species for firewood in the region. As the population of the region increases there will be huge demand for fuelwood in the coming years. Therefore, more emphasis should be given for scientific selection of suitable firewood species and people should be mobilized to take up large-scale energy plantation for fulfilling their demand.