BIOMASS BRIQUETTES AS A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ALTERNATIVE: MITIGATING DEFORESTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Environmental Engineering

Deforestation is one of major global threats, it poses a serious challenge to human livelihood and nature in general. Extreme use of firewood as source of energy in Jigawa State, results in severe environmental issues including soil degradation, desertification, and heavy annual flooding. Using biomass briquettes could be a suitable and sustainable alternative to these environmental challenges. This study highlights the environmental implications of constant deforestation and presents an important benefit of biomass briquettes as a sustainable alternative to firewood. Additionally, a comprehensive survey was carried out about the level of awareness and perception of using biomass briquettes as a substitute to firewood. A study was conducted across 3 agroecological zones in Jigawa State involving 300 respondents. Data collected were analysed statistically using cross-tabulation procedure (degrees of freedom, Chi-square value, p-value, frequency, percent, and %mean). The results showed that most of the respondents were males (84%), aged between 26 to 45 years with tertiary (71%) level of education, and household size between 1 to 5 individuals (51%). Most of the respondents are farmers (52%). Moreover, the results revealed that 82.33% of the respondents were using firewood as the primary source of energy, and the majority (92.67%) believed there are environmental consequences of using firewood as a source of energy. 54.3% of the respondents spent >5000 Naira monthly on sources of fuel. Period to this survey, 76% of the respondents does not heard of biomass briquettes, 71% of the respondents believed biomass briquettes could be a suitable substitute to firewood, and 89% are willing to transition to biomass briquettes, whereas 92% of the respondents are eager to learn how to produce biomass briquettes, if training were given. It’s absolutely recommended government should put more effort into an awareness campaign about the environmental consequences of deforestation, the harmful effects of using firewood as a source of energy, and present biomass briquettes as a sustainable substitute. Additionally, the government should propose a biomass briquette production training centre across the state.

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