Unbelievable but True -- Improved cook-stoves are not helpful in reducing firewood demand in Nepal ,SANDEE Working Paper No. 51-10

Working Papers » Unbelievable but True -- Improved cook-stoves are not helpful in reducing firewood demand in Nepal

By : Mani Nepal, Apsara Nepal and Kristin Grimsurd

Abstract: This paper analyzes the effect of different types of cook-stoves on firewood demand at the household level. Using nationally representative household survey data from Nepal we find that stove type significantly affects the firewood demand for household uses. Traditional mud stove user households seem to use less firewood than the open-fire stove users. Surprisingly, households with the so called ‘improved' stoves seem to use more firewood than the households with mud stoves. Thus, converting traditional open-fire stoves to mud stoves may be a better conservation strategy in the short term rather than installing improved stoves, unless the technology improves. However, in the long run, making cleaner fuel more accessible to rural households is desirable to reduce indoor air pollution.

Keywords :Firewood consumption, improved stove, mud stove, open-fire stove, deforestation

JEL Classification :Q23, Q42

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