Determinants of Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources towards Reducing Deforestation in Ambo district, West Shoa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

In rural Ethiopia, firewood and animal dung is the main source of energy which is factors to forest deforestation and degradation of land all severe environmental problems. However, Ethiopia has a vast potential of alternative renewable energy resources (like solar and biogas) that are still unutilized. The aim of study was to assess the determinants of adopting renewable energy sources for minimizing burden on biomass energy source at rural household level in the study area. In order to achieve objectives of the study; data were collected from 452 household heads randomly sampled using survey questionnaire (scheduled interview). In addition to this sample, key informants such as rural village leaders, development agents (government and non-governmental organizations), renewable energy source users and elder people were also sources of primary data using interview checklist and field observation were also done for triangulation of quantitative data. Collected survey data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and econometric model (probit model) using Stata and SPSS software. The statements from key informant interview were often used to substantiate the responses of questionnaire. The findings of the study confirmed that the probability of a household adopting renewable energy sources (biogas and solar) technology increases with decreasing age of head of household, increasing household income, increasing number of cattle owned, increasing size of farm land, increasing location of traditional fuels and while adoption decreases with increasing remoteness of household location from agricultural extension center, health extension center & market service. With respect to renewable energy source adopter households confirmed that more advantages in terms of contribution to reducing environmental pollution and minimize burden on biomass fuels, economical energy source, saves time of women & children and reduce smoke/ashes as compared to non-adopters. Based on the findings, it is recommended that development planers should be work at grass root level for scale up expansion of renewable energy sources. Since, the most bottle neck in expansion of renewable energy sources in the study area were fail to adopt because they fail to understand their immediate use and inadequate information. Finally, both governmental and non-governmental organizations must be encouraged, promoted, implemented, and demonstrated by full-scale plan especially for use in remote rural areas.

Keywords: Adoption, deforestation, determinants, households, renewable energy source