Socio-Economic determinants of Cooking Fuel Choice among Households in Rural Sri Lanka

Abstract

Assuming a likely order of movement in fuel selection based on efficiency and cleanliness of energy sources, the present study utilize ordered probit model to investigate the determinants of household fuel switching behavior in rural Sri Lanka. The data were collected from a systematic random sample of 420 respondents using a self-reported questionnaire.  Empirical findings reveal that education level of household head and spouse, employment status of household head and spouse, extended family type and perceived LPG cost are the major influential factors of cooking fuel choice while the age of the household head, family size, dwelling type, number of meals cook per day, distance to the town and income are significant but minor factors. It was indicated that there is a greater potential for a transition from traditional firewood burning to improved stoves while the switching to cleaner energy will not be immediate due to the strangeness of non-income determinants. Thus, awareness raising and subsidizing for more energy efficient cook stoves are advocated.

Keywords: Bio mass, , Clean fuel; Cooking fuel; Energy ladder; Sri Lanka