Abstract
Developing world attempt various program and initiatives that enhance to work and disseminate improved cook stoves which have health, economic and environmental benefits. Therefore, understanding factors affecting adoption of improved cook stoves plays a key role.
The main purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affect households’ adoption of improved cook stove use in Welmara Woreda, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia, by using descriptive and analytical research analysis. A survey was conducted with a structured questionnaire for 154 households that were randomly selected from two kebeles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the key informants of Mirt stove producers in each kebele, Woreda water resource and energy offices experts and kebele administration leaders. Focus group discussions were also held with 6 key informants. Data from questionnaires, interview and the focus group discussion were analyzed by using descriptive statistics /t-test and chi-square/ and binary logistic regression The t-test and chi-square test results shows that all households’ socio economic characteristics were statically significant except marital status which was insignificant and the result obtained from logit model shows income, fuel wood and price were significant to mirt stove adoption decision. Income and fuel wood with charge were positively related and price was negatively related to mirt stove adoption decision. Providing credit services and supports to the potential users and producers, providing technical support to users, providing production sites for producers were found to be institutional factors to influence Mirt stove adoption. Social factors such as membership to local associations, active participation in social activities information exchange, early adopters’ influence and neighbors’ influence were also found to be important variables that affect Mirt stove adoption decision. Finally, the intervention government required to reverse this condition and needed to promote the technologies that enhance renewable energy use in order to realize green economy as well as environmentally friend and sustainable economic development is the recommendation of the researcher.
Key words: Household Energy, Adoption, Mirt stove, Open-fire, fuel-wood