Adoption of improved cooking stoves technology and its implications to deforestation: a case of Mpunguzi Ward, Dodoma Municipality

The problem of deforestation is still a serious issue in Dodoma region. Scarcity of fuel wood caused by deforestation has also been a major problem to the majority of poor people. STT is seriously involved in sensitizing, training and disseminating improved cooking stoves in the rural households in Dodoma Region to combat deforestation. This study used the case study of improved cooking stove project implemented by STT to evaluate the adoption of improved cooking stoves technology and its implications to deforestation in Mpunguzi ward. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire whereby household interviews, focus group discussion, key informants and direct field observation techniques were employed. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data. A total of 98 individual households were randomly selected and interviewed. The study found that; the adoption of improved cooking stoves was low (38.7 %) compared to the number of households in the ward. However improved cooking stoves had contributed to the reduced fire wood consumption and reduced frequency on firewood collection. Also the improved cooking stove technology have not reduced deforestation as anticipated and as time goes up distance and time on firewood collection is increasing. STT in collaboration with village government need to educate people on the advantages of improved stoves technology as well as ensuring dissemination, project monitoring and enhance the use of improved cooking stoves. Local community involvement in all stages of project formulation and its implementation be insured. Lastly the MNRT should support NGOs and village government so as to conserve forestry resources.