Energy Consumption of Rural Farming Households in Kwara State, Nigeria

The main objective of this study was to understand the rural energy consumption of the farming households. The data used for the study were obtained through a four-stage sampling procedure which resulted in a sample size of 120 households. Logistic regression procedure was used to determine the energy consumption pattern and the factors affecting the use. The relationships between the type of energy (modern or traditional) consumed by the household and educational status, household size, age, total monthly income, total amount spent on food per month and distance travelled per week to obtain fuel were established. The regression result showed that age of the household heads and distance travelled to obtain fuel was significant in explaining the variation in the type of energy consumed. Observed energy consumption pattern revealed that most of the respondents consumed more of traditional than the modern energy types. The study suggests that in order to reduce stress and health hazards associated with the traditional energy source, modern energy consumption should be encouraged among the rural households in order that they might reduce the stress and hazards encountered in obtaining and using the traditional energy and also, to reduce the exploitation of forest resources for traditional fuel.