Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia

Rural households in Ethiopia have limited options to meet their domestic energy needs because they lack access to modern fuels and technologies. Domestic use of certain fuel sources, such as cow dung, can hinder agricultural outcomes and productivity. This article explores the tradeoffs between dome...

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Main Authors: Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework, Bryan, Elizabeth, Alemu, Tekie, Ringler, Claudia
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147669
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author Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Bryan, Elizabeth
Alemu, Tekie
Ringler, Claudia
author_browse Alemu, Tekie
Bryan, Elizabeth
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Ringler, Claudia
author_facet Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Bryan, Elizabeth
Alemu, Tekie
Ringler, Claudia
author_sort Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Rural households in Ethiopia have limited options to meet their domestic energy needs because they lack access to modern fuels and technologies. Domestic use of certain fuel sources, such as cow dung, can hinder agricultural outcomes and productivity. This article explores the tradeoffs between domestic and productive uses of biomass energy sources in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia using a nonseparable farm household model where labor allocation to energy collection and farming are analyzed simultaneously. We estimate a system of five structural equations using three‐stage least squares and find that the use of dung as a domestic fuel source has negative implications for the value of harvested crops, while use of on‐farm fuelwood is associated with increased value of agricultural output. On‐farm production of fuelwood appears to increase the value of crop output and provide labor savings, by making fuelwood collection more convenient for households. Policy interventions to support the expansion of agroforestry and increase access to new energy‐efficient technologies are needed to ensure that agricultural productivity can be both increased and sustained.
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spelling CGSpace1476692025-03-03T19:00:20Z Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework Bryan, Elizabeth Alemu, Tekie Ringler, Claudia farmyard manure biomass stoves natural resources livestock manure fuels equipment cropping systems biofuels agroforestry households crops technology assessement sustainability agriculture energy resources fuelwood crop residues agricultural wastes energy conservation agricultural productivity farming systems energy Rural households in Ethiopia have limited options to meet their domestic energy needs because they lack access to modern fuels and technologies. Domestic use of certain fuel sources, such as cow dung, can hinder agricultural outcomes and productivity. This article explores the tradeoffs between domestic and productive uses of biomass energy sources in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia using a nonseparable farm household model where labor allocation to energy collection and farming are analyzed simultaneously. We estimate a system of five structural equations using three‐stage least squares and find that the use of dung as a domestic fuel source has negative implications for the value of harvested crops, while use of on‐farm fuelwood is associated with increased value of agricultural output. On‐farm production of fuelwood appears to increase the value of crop output and provide labor savings, by making fuelwood collection more convenient for households. Policy interventions to support the expansion of agroforestry and increase access to new energy‐efficient technologies are needed to ensure that agricultural productivity can be both increased and sustained. 2017 2024-06-21T09:23:09Z 2024-06-21T09:23:09Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147669 en http://purl.umn.edu/205752 Wiley Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework; Bryan, Elizabeth; Alemu, Tekie; and Ringler, Claudia. 2017. Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics 48(4): 425-435. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12344
spellingShingle farmyard manure
biomass
stoves
natural resources
livestock manure
fuels
equipment
cropping systems
biofuels
agroforestry
households
crops
technology assessement
sustainability
agriculture
energy resources
fuelwood
crop residues
agricultural wastes
energy conservation
agricultural productivity
farming systems
energy
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Bryan, Elizabeth
Alemu, Tekie
Ringler, Claudia
Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title_full Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title_short Food versus fuel: Examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in Ethiopia
title_sort food versus fuel examining tradeoffs in the allocation of biomass energy sources to domestic and productive uses in ethiopia
topic farmyard manure
biomass
stoves
natural resources
livestock manure
fuels
equipment
cropping systems
biofuels
agroforestry
households
crops
technology assessement
sustainability
agriculture
energy resources
fuelwood
crop residues
agricultural wastes
energy conservation
agricultural productivity
farming systems
energy
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147669
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