Charcoal Production and Marketing in Gujarat

Field Document No.36, 1993


This pilot study focuses on charcoal production, trade and marketing in the state of Gujarat, India. The consumers of charcoal in the city of Ahmedabad as well as the industrial users outside this city are identified and the required quantities of a number of consumers have been estimated. The production subsystem deals with the supply pattern, and in this case the city is mainly supplied by four districts which belong to an area where rainfall is low and crop production is risky.

Prosopis juliflora is the major tree species used for charcoal making and some information is given about planting and its economics. The contribution of charcoal production to wasteland development, employment and income generation is reported. The marketing of charcoal is a major focus of this report. Data on the quantities delivered to the city over several years are presented and the economics of traders and suppliers (expenses/costing, quality control, financing, agents, risk, etc.) are described in more detail. The policy environment is described along with the difficulties for the people involved in charcoal production. The document suggests that the control and regulation systems and the absence of appropriate policy in favour of charcoal production obstruct the development of this industry.


 Table of Contents
Foreword
1.Development Background and Justification
2.Charcoal and Its Consumers
3.Production Sub-System
4.Marketing of Charcoal
5.Conclusions and Development Perspectives
6.References
Annexure
1.1.Arrival of Charcoal at Ahmedabad Market from 1986-87 to 1989-90
1.2.Arrival of Charcoal at Ahmedabad Market in 1986-87
1.3.Arrival of Charcoal at Ahmedabad Market in 1987-88
1.4.Arrival of Charcoal at Ahmedabad Market in 1988-89
1.5.Arrival of Charcoal at Ahmedabad Market in 1989-90
2.1.Village-Wise Arrival of Charcoal from Surendranagar District 1989-90
3.1.Highly Regular Destinations for Charcoal Despatches from Ahmedabad Market
3.2.Fairly Regular Destinations for Charcoal Despatches from Ahmedabad Market
3.3.Occasional Destinations for Charcoal Despatches from Ahmedabad
3.4.Rare Destinations for Charcoal Despatches from Ahmedabad
4.1.Wholesale Prices of Charcoal at Ahmedabad per Maund

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