Economic and financial sustainability of an Acacia decurrens-based Taungya system for farmers in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Small-Scale Woodlot Growers’ Interest in Participating in Bioenergy Market In Rural Ethiopia

“…This result is consistent with our initial hypothesis as well with results from previous studies (Curman et al 2016 ; Hand et al 2019 ; Joshi and Mehmood 2011 ; Proctor and Lucchesi 2012 ; Qu et al 2016 ; Van Dael et al 2017 ), who found that younger household heads are more open to trying (and reaping) the benefits of new ventures (e.g., technologies or emerging markets) or have more positive affective and cognitive evaluations of new bioenergy sources. In addition, because this group derives fewer benefits from the current plantation system than older farmers (Nigussie et al 2020 ; Nigussie et al 2021 ), the results may also imply that younger farmers have higher expectations of spillover benefits (e.g., employment opportunities) from any additional demand for services in the biomass supply chain. A plausible explanation that can be advanced for this view is that younger farmers, who are healthier, have a higher ability, and thus they are more likely to foresee and show interest, to partake in any off-farm wage employment options of the proposed bioenergy program than older farmers (Proctor and Lucchesi 2012 ).…”

“…This finding suggests that acacia growers belonging to a higher-earning category, holding all else constant, generally were more likely to favor such biomass supply initiatives. It is very likely that wealthier farmers, either through their larger land holdings or their greater capacity to buy acacia stands from resource-poor farmers, could commit more acreage to cultivation of acacia plantations (Nigussie et al 2017 ; Nigussie et al 2020 ). This, in turn, would allow them to produce enough woody biomass residues for self-consumption as well as having the resources to collect and prepare biomass for selling to the hypothetical biomass program.…”

“…Biomass feedstock logistics systems to support the primary producers could also provide employment and income opportunities in rural areas if supported by appropriate policies and financial institutions, particularly to those who currently derive less benefit from the plantation system, such as women and younger and poorer farmers (Nigussie et al 2020 ). The facts, that households owning an improved stove tended to be more interested in supplying biomass to the feedstock value chain, as well as households who seem to have good access to firewood and thus energy, indicate that the more efficient the rural energy system is, the more biomass would be available to process instead of being burned in less efficient, but cheaper stove or fireplace systems.…”

“…The dominant livestock types are cattle, sheep, donkeys, horses, and poultry. The predominant fast-growing exotic species include acacia and E. camadulensis (Abebe et al 2020 ; Nigussie et al 2020 ; Wondie and Mekuria 2018 ). Clear felling (acacia) and coppice management ( E. camadulensis ) are the common plantation management practices (Abebe et al 2020 ).…”

“…Among these, eucalyptus and acacia species appeared the most promising tree species (Belayneh et al 2020 ; Nigussie et al 2017 ). Particularly in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia, the farming system seems to be gradually shifting toward the cultivation of acacia and eucalyptus plantations, mainly to produce traditional energy sources like charcoal and firewood (Belayneh et al 2020 ; Nigussie et al 2017 ; Nigussie et al 2020 ).…”