Resources and Use Pattern of Bio-fuels by Rural Women of Bikaner District in Rajasthan

Forest and agricultural products play a major role in the permanently settled substitute forms of agriculture practiced by the people in arid region. The population of Western Rajasthan still depends on natural shrubs/trees for fuel-wood. The present study was conducted in the purposively selected six villages of Bikaner to study the sources and problems of fuel wood supply, utilization pattern of fuel-wood along with other fuels for cooking purposes and to find the problems faced by women regarding collection and use of biofuels. The data was collected from 210 respondents comprising 70 respondents from each i.e. rain fed, canal and tube well irrigated area. three percent and 19 percent of the households were using clean fuels like kerosene or L.P.G for cooking purposes in tubewell irrigated areas. Phog (Calligonum polygonoides) was one of the best quality fuel wood in the arid region. On an average the rural women and children were travelling every week at least 3–6 km per trip and devoting 4–6 hours for collection of fuel wood for cooking purposes. A total of 7 kg of fuel wood, one kg of dung cakes and 2.08 hours are required per day per meal by the cook for preparing meal for large (15–20) family. Headache (68%) and burning sensation (75%) in eyes were the major problems faced by the all the respondents while using poor quality fuel wood. The results of the study suggest that due to non-availability of cleaner fuels women are forced to go for inferior quality of fuel leading to health problems. As such women should be made aware of good ventilation and smokeless chullahs, which will substantially reduce their workload, the level of pollution and improve their health.