Fuelwood Consumption Pattern of Titabor Block of Jorhat District of Assam - a Case Study

Abstract

A survey on demand and supply of fuel wood was conducted in the Titabor block of Jorhat District (Assam). Average family size was observed to be 5. Maximum respondent belongs to the OBC category. Agriculture is the main land use system in the region. Total extraction and consumption of fuel wood in the surveyed population is found to be 605.25 tonnes and 676.08 tonnes per year respectively. Per capita consumption was found to be 495 kg/year. Out of the total extraction , 77% comes from homestead , 14% from bamboostead and 9% from forest. About 96 percent of fuel wood is consumed in cooking. Total deficit in the area is found to be 10.47% while deficit excluding extraction bamboostead and forest is observed to be 30.99%. A total of 28 species are being exploited for fuel wood in the region. Family income , type of houses and caste are the major factors that govern the consumption of fuel wood in the area.