An evaluation of factors influencing firewood usage among electrified households at Nkomo village, Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa

Abstract

Firewood can be defined as a source of energy generated by burning wood biomass such as logs and twigs. It is the major source of energy in the rural areas of developing countries, where other energy sources such as electricity are limited. In many high mountainous regions in developing countries, the use of firewood as a source of energy is dominant due to the availability of forest wood in such areas. More than two billion people in the world depend on firewood as their primary source of energy. Furthermore, it has been estimated that more than 2.4 billion people rely directly on traditional plant biomass for cooking and heating. Plant biomass use represents half of the residential energy consumption in developing countries. In South Africa, especially in rural communities, firewood remains a primary energy source, even for electrified households. It is regarded as one of the most significant sources of biomass energy. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the factors influencing the usage of firewood as an energy source among electrified households in the rural Nkomo Village in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed in this research to achieve the main aim of the study. Research instruments such as questionnaires and on-site observation were utilised to collect the data. It was found that, although Nkomo Village had been electrified for more than 25 years, the majority of the residents still rely on firewood for their daily cooking and space and water heating because of its affordability, considering that most of them are dependent on government social grants as a source of income and cannot afford the electricity required for these purposes. Electricity in the area is mainly used for lighting. It was found that several factors influence the usage of firewood in electrified households in Nkomo, including accessibility, affordability, the age of the heads of households, income, cultural preference, and geographical location. In addition, economic factors such as unemployment, as well as the high cost of electricity and electrical appliances, contribute to the choice to use firewood. This situation might continue for some time to come. Since the village is electrified, it is recommended that households fully adopt the usage of electricity and electrical appliances for other household activities and not only for lighting, as this will minimise their contributions towards environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss as a result of deforestation (both plants and animal species), soil erosion, air pollution and its health impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change. However, full adoption of electricity will require government intervention by ensuring that electricity is affordable and also by introducing other sources of energy. Government will therefore have to contribute by formulating policies and strategies related to rural household electricity access and usage, socio-economic factors and impacts associated with firewood use in rural villages, as well as strategies and interventions to reduce environmental impacts (such as air pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss and desertification) resulting from firewood sourcing. In rural areas like Nkomo Village, the priority should be to provide affordable and reliable energy. Findings from this study will inform communities in the host village and neighbouring villages, policymakers and the government, by providing information on and awareness of the extent to which firewood is still used as household energy source, the disadvantages of using it, as well as potential environmental impacts associated with its use

Tihunyi ti nga hlamuseriwa tanihi xihlovo xa eneji leyi yi humesiwaka hi ku tshivela tihunyi ku kufumeta tanihi timhandze na swihlahlana I xihlovo lexikulu xa eneji eka tindhawu ta le makaya ta matiko lama ya ha hluvukaka, laha swihlovo swin'wana swa eneji swo fana na gezi swi nga kumekiku kahle hi ku ringanela. Eka tirijini ta tintshava eka matiko lama ya ha hluvukaka, ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi tanihi xihlovo xa eneji i nchumu lowu endlekaka ngopfu hikuva ku na swihlahla swinyingi eka tindhawu to tano. Vanhu vo tlula tibiliyoni timbirhi (2) eka misava hinkwayo va tshembela eka tihunyi tanihi xihlovo xo sungula xa eneji. Nakambe, swi ringanyetiwa leswo vanhu vo tlula tibiliyini ta 2.4 va tshembele eka switshiveriwa swa swimila swa ntumbuluko eka ku sweka na ku kufumeta. Ku tirhisiwa ka switshiveriwa swa swimila swi ringana hafu wa eneji leyi tirhisiwaka emakaya eka matiko lama ya ha hluvukaka. EAfrika Dzonga, ngopfungopfu eka tindhawu ta le makaya, ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi ka ha ri xihloxo xo sungula xa eneji, hambi na le ka miti leyi yi nga na gezi. Ku tekiwa ku ri yin'wana ya swihlovo swa eneji leyi yi tirhisaka swilo swo fana na tihunyi na swimila swa ntumbuluko. Xikongomelonkulu xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku kambela swilo leswi swi susumetaku no kucetela ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi tanihi xihlovo xa eneji eka miti leyi yi nga na gezi eka muti wa Nkomo Village eka Provhinsi (Xifundzhankulu) xa Limpopo eAfrika Dzonga. Ku tirhisiwe tindlela timbirhi ta qualitative na quantitative eka fambiselo ra ndzavisiso ku fikelela xikongomelonkulu xa ndzavisiso. Switirhisiwa swa ndzavisiso leswi swi nga tirhisiwa swo fana na nongonoko wa swivutiso leswi tsariweke ku nga questionnaires, ku lemuka kunene leswi endlekaku eka ndhawu (on-site observation), swi tirhisiwe ku hlengeleta vutivi. Ku kumeke leswo hambiloko eka muti wa Nkomo Villlage ku nga na gezi ku tlula nkarhi wa malembe ya 25, vunyingi bya vatshami va ndhawu va ha tshembele ngopfu eka ku tirhisa tihunyi eka mitirho ya masiku, ku sweka, ku kufumeta ndhawu na mati hikuva vunyingi bya vanhu byi tshembele eka mali ya tigranti ta mfumo, na swona a va koti ku hakelela gezi leri lavekaka eka swikongomelo leswi. Gezi eka ndhawu ri tirhisiwa ngopfu ku voninga. Ku kumeke leswo ku na swilo swo hlaya leswi swi nga swivangelo kumbe swikuceteri swa ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi eka miti leyi yi nga na gezi eka Nkomo leswi katsaka ku fikeleleka, vukoteki bya nxavo, malembe ya vukhale ya tinhloko ta miti, malinghena, ku hambana ka swa mindhavuko, na ndhawu hi jiyografu laha ndhawu yi nga kona. Na le henhla ka sweswo, swiyimo eka ikhonomi swo fana na ku kala mitirho, xikan'we na mintsengo ya minxavo ya le henhla gezi, na tiaplayense ta gezi, hinkwaswo swi ve na xiavo eka ku langiwa ka ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi. Xiyimo lexi xi nga ha ya emahlweni eka nkarhi lowu taku. Hikuva vhileji yi na gezi, ku bumabumeriwa leswo miti yi fanele ku amukela ku tirhisiwa ka gezi na tiaplayense eka migingiriko yin'wana, ku nga ri ku voninga ntsena, hikuva leswi swi ta hunguta vuyelo byo biha eka mbangu byo fana na ku lahleka ka swilo swo hambanahambana eka ntumbuluko hikokwalaho ko lahlakeriwa hi swihlahla (haswimbirhi ku nga swimila na tinxaka ta swiharhi), ku khukhuleka ka misava, ku thyakiseka ka moya, na rihanyu, na ku humesiwa ka mimusi ku nga greenhouse gas emissions, leswi swi ngeteleleka ku kufumela ka misava na ku cinca ka klayimete. Kambe, ku amukeriwa hi xitalo ka ku tirhisiwa ka gezi swi ta lava leswo mfumu wo nghenelela hi ku tiyisa leswo gezi a ri durhi ra fikeleleka eka vanhu na ku nghenisa swihlovo swin'wana swa eneji. Mfumo wu ta fanela ku pfuneta hi ku endla tipholisi na maqhinga lama ya fambelanaka na ku fikelela ka miti eka gezi na ku tirhisiwa, swilo swo fambelana na vanhu na ikhonomi na vuyelo lebyi byi fambelanaku na ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi eka tindhawu ta le makaya, xikan'we na maqhinga na ku nghenela ku hunguta vuyelo byo biha eka mbangu (byo fana na ku thyakisiwa ka moya, ku herisiwa ka swihlahla, ku lahleka ka swihlovo swa ntumbuluko swo hambana, na ku endla tindhawu ti va mananga, leswi vangeriwaka hi ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi. Eka tindhawu ta le makaya to fana na Nkomo Village, xo sungula ku fanele ku va ku pfuneta hi eneji leyi fikeleleka na leyi yi tshamaku yi ri kona. Vuyelo bya ndzavisiso byi ta pfuneta vaakamiti eka vhileji leyi ku nga endliwa ndzavisio eka yona na vaakelani va yona, vaendli va pholisi na mfumo, ku pfuneta hi vutivi na vulemuki hi xiyimo xa ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyi hilaha ti tirhisiwaka ha kona tanihi xihlovo xa eneji eka miti, vuyelo byo biha bya ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyu, xikan'we na vuyelo byo biha eka mbangu lebyi byi fambelanaku na ku tirhisiwa ka tihunyu.

Khuni dzi nga ṱalutshedzwa sa tshiko tsha fulufulu tshine tsha bveledzwa nga u vhasa zwibveledzwa zwi ngaho matanda na matavhi. Ndi tshone tshiko tshihulwane vhuponi ha mahayani kha mashango ane a kha ḓi bvelela, hune zwiṅwe zwiko zwa fulufulu zwi ngaho muḓagasi zwa vha zwo pimea. Kha vhupo vhunzhi ha nṱha dzithavhani, u shumiswa ha khuni sa tshiko tsha fulufulu zwo ḓalesa zwi tshi itiswa nga u wanalesa ha ḓaka ḽa khuni kha vhupo honoho. Vhathu vhane vha fhira biḽioni mbili ḽifhasini vho ḓitika nga khuni sa tshone tshiko tshihulwane tsha fulufulu. U isa phanḓa nga u ralo, ho anganyelwa uri vhathu vhane vha fhira biḽioni dza 2.4 vha ḓitika thwii nga zwibveledzwa zwa miri ya sialala kha u bika na u dudedza. U shumiswa ha zwibveledzwa zwa miri zwo imelwa nga hafu ya u shumiswa ha fulufulu nga vhadzulapo kha mashango ane a kha ḓi bvelela. Afrika Tshipembe, nga maanḓa vhuponi ha mahayani, khuni dzi dzula dzi tshone tshiko tshihulwane tsha fulufulu, na kha miṱa ire na muḓagasi. Zwi dzhiwa sa tshiṅwe tshiko tsha ndeme tsha fulufulu ḽa tshibveledzwa tsha miri. Ndivho khulwane ya ngudo iyi ho vha u ṱola zwiṱaluli zwi ṱuṱuwedzaho kushumisele kwa khuni sa tshiko tsha fulufulu vhukati ha miḓi ire na muḓagasi Muḓanani wa Nkomo kha Vundu ḽa Limpopo Afrika Tshipembe. Ho shumiswa vhuvhili ha ngona dza ṱhoḓisiso ya khwanthethivi na ya khwaḽithethivi u swikelela ndivho khulwane ya ngudo. Zwishumiswa zwa ṱhoḓisiso zwi ngaho sa mbudzisambekanywa, kuitele kwa u dzhiela vhathu nṱha na zwithu u wana mafhungo na dziinthaviwu zwo shumiswa u kuvhanganya data. Ho waniwa zwauri, naho Muḓanani wa Nkomo wo dzheniswa muḓagasi miṅwaha i fhiraho 25, vhunzhi ha vhadzulapo vha kha ḓi ḓitika nga khuni kha u bika ha ḓuvha ḽiṅwe na ḽiṅwe, hune vha bikela hone na u dudedza maḓi ngauri vhunzhi havho vha ḓitika nga magavhelo a muvhuso sa tshone tshiko tsha mbuelo na uri vha nga si kone u badela muḓagasi une wa ṱoḓea kha ndivho dzenedzi. Muḓagasi kha vhupo wo shumiswa nga maanḓa kha u funga mavhone. Ho wanululwa uri zwiṱaluli zwo vhalaho zwo ṱuṱuwedza u shumiswa ha khuni kha miṱa ire na muḓagasi ha Nkomo, hu tshi katelwa u swikelela, u konea, vhukale ha ṱhoho dza muṱa, mbuelo, mvelele ine ya takalelwa na fhethu vhupo. Nṱha ha zwenezwo, zwiṱaluli zwa ikonomi zwi ngaho sa u shayea ha mishumo, na mutengo wa muḓagasi ure nṱha zwishumiswa zwa muḓagasi, zwo bveledza u nanga u shumiswa khuni. Nyimele iyi i nga bvela phanḓa lwa tshifhinga tshilapfu ngauri muḓana u na muḓagasi, hu khou themendelwa uri miṱa i ṱanganedze u shumiswa ha muḓagasi na zwishumiswa zwa muḓagasi, hu si u shumisela fhedzi mavhone, sa izwi zwi tshi ḓo fhungudza u shela mulenzhe havho kha masiandaitwa a vhupo a nga ho u xelelwa matshilo a zwipuka na zwimela zwo bveledzwa nga u rema maḓaka (vhuvhili hazwo zwigwada zwa zwimela na zwipuka), mukumbululo wa mavu, tshikafhadzo ya muya na masiandaitwa a mutakalo, u phaḓaladza gese ya nnḓu yo fhaṱwaho nga ngilasi zwine zwa bveledza mufhiso wa ḽifhasi na tshandulo ya kilima. Naho zwo ralo, u ṱanganedzwa tshoṱhe ha muḓagasi zwi ḓo ṱoḓa u dzhenelela ha muvhuso nga u vhona zwauri muḓagasi u a swikelelea na nga u dovha u ḓivhadza zwiṅwe zwiko zwa fulufulu. Muvhuso nga zwenezwo u ḓo tea u shela mulenzhe nga u bveledza mbekanyamaitele na zwiṱirathedzhi zwi elanaho na u swikelela na u shumisa muḓagasi miṱani ya vhupo ha mahayani, zwiṱaluli zwa ikonomi ya matshilisano na masiandaitwa a elanaho na u shumiswa ha khuni miḓanani ya vhuponi ha mahayani, na zwiṱirathedzhi na u dzhenelela u fhungudza masiandaitwa a vhupo (a ngaho tshikafhadzo ya mufhe, u rema maḓaka, u xelelwa nga zwimela na zwipuka na) zwo bveledzwa nga tshiko tsha khuni. Kha vhupo ha mahayani vhungaho Muḓana wa Nkomo, zwine zwa fanela u dzhielwa nṱha hu fanela u vha u ṋetshedza fulufulu ḽine ḽa swikelelwa ḽo khwaṱhaho. Mawanwa kha ngudo iyi a ḓo ḓivhadza zwitshavha kha muḓana wa ṋemuṱa na miḓana ya nga tsini, vhabveledza mbekanyamaitele na muvhuso, nga u ṋetshedza mafhungo nga ha u dzhiela nṱha nga huhulu nga nḓila ine khuni dzi kha ḓi shumiswa ngayo sa tshiko tsha fulufulu, zwivhi zwa u dzi shumisa, na masiandaitwa a ndeme a re kha vhupo a elanaho na u shumiswa hadzo.