COVER

TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
OF USING WOOD FUELS
IN RURAL INDUSTRIES

Contents


October 1987

Edited by TARGET Tecnologia e Servizi S.r.l., Rome


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Contents

PREFACE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF RURAL INDUSTRIES TO NATIONAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

2.1 COTTAGE ACTIVITIES
2.2 VILLAGE ENTERPRISES
2.3 RURAL INDUSTRIES

3. CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF WOOD FUELS

4. WOOD ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS

4.1 FOOD AND BEVERAGE PREPARATION AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL
4.2 BAKERIES
4.3 BREWERIES
4.4 FISH SMOKERIES
4.5 POTTERIES
4.6 BRICK AND TILE PRODUCTION
4.7 LIME BURNING
4.8 RUBBER PRODUCTION
4.9 TOBACCO CURING
4.10 COCONUT INDUSTRY
4.11 TEA DRYING
4.12 COFFEE AND COCOA PROCESSING

5. WOOD FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEMS

5.1 COTTAGE AND VILLAGE ACTIVITIES
5.2 INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

6. PROFITABILITY OF USING WOOD FUELS

7. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF USING WOOD FUELS

8. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

9. CONCLUDING REMARKS

REFERENCES

PREFACE

In this publication, FAO presents an important aspect in the use of wood-based fuels. Fuelwood is well known as a domestic fuel for cooking and heating in both rural and urban areas. However, from several studies carried out in Africa, Asia and Latin America, it has been realized that as well as being used for domestic purposes, fuelwood is also an important fuel in many rural processing industries and village applications.

In some cases, these are industries which have a great economic importance at national level because they generate foreign currency as in the case of the coffee, tea, tobacco and coconut industries. In other cases, fuelwood is an important input in the manufacturing of products for local markets, such as brick making, lime processing, ceramics and sometimes also in certain textile industries.

Finally, fuelwood is of considerable importance in the manufacturing of food for the community, such as smoked fish, bread, beverages, street food, etc., which help to secure the food supply in the community.

At the same time as being an important fuel in rural energy systems, fuelwood plays a very important socio-economic role in rural communities through the generation of jobs and cash income to the people.

Therefore, the security of fuelwood supply is not only a necessity from the point of view of energy, but also because it improves the functioning and development of community life in rural areas. This would be less so if fuelwood were to be substituted by fossil fuels.

The results of the studies carried out by FAO with the help and participation of many specialists are summarized in this publication, which shows a need for urgent action in order to improve the use of fuelwood and guarantee the functioning of rural wood-based energy systems. It is further hoped that this publication will serve to improve the knowledge of this important sector and contribute to the improvement in the use of fuelwood, and that it will be starting point for future action.

FAO is especially grateful to Mr R. Thun for his contribution in putting together the information presented in this document.