Name: Teyie Sharon (MSc)

MSc in Range Management

Title of thesis: Analysis of charcoal value chain in semi-arid Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya

Summary

Analysis of the production practices, actors, marketing channels, prices and quantities, as well as determinants of households’ adoption of charcoal production for the purpose of informing policy and practices on sustainable charcoal production in the drylands of Kenya.

Key findings

• Traditional earth kiln is the main charcoal production technology used in the study area.
• 13 types of actors are involved along the charcoal value chain.
• Female and youth headed households were found to be more likely to engage in charcoal production than households with male and older heads.

Take home message

Charcoal production employs many and there is ready demand for the fuel in urban and peri-urban areas. However, the main production technology is not sustainable. Therefore  there is need to promote more efficient technologies amog the producers, with focus on the women and youth who are the majority of charcoal producers.

Most interesting part about your PhD study program

Charcoal is a preferred source of fuel for a majority of the low and middle class households living in urban and peri-urban areas, and a key complimentary livelihood for pastoralist communities. Therefore interventions, alongside seeking green energy alternatives, should focus on developing more efficient technologies in order to maximize the synergies and minimize the trade-offs related to charcoal production.