[Stoves] News (2016): Firewood and charcoal price inflation in rural India

[Nikhil Desai]

This is the first time I have seen such a news item in India - or for that
matter anywhere else in the world. It is a matter of calculated, determined
ignorance that basic cooking fuel price data are rarely collected. Kerosene
was often administered price in most countries until recently.

I remember charcoal prices were factored into industrial workers' wage
indexation in some cities. Of course, some rural poor in India don't have
to wait for Tier 4 wood stoves; the LPG scheme is spreading fast.

I also remember seeing charcoal price data in southern Africa.

Excerpt below. Studies of price formation - stumpage fees, transport, labor
- are extremely rare.

Nikhil

Dung cake, firewood fuel rural inflation
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Dung-cake-firewood-fuel-rural-inflation/articleshow/53258014.cms>,
Surojit Gupta, Times of India 18 July 2016

NEW DELHI: At a time when low oil prices have brought big relief to urban
households, rural India is hit by an unprecedented rise in cooking fuel
prices -primarily caused by surging prices of dung cake, firewood and chips.

The detailed breakdown of inflation data for 2015-16 released recently and
analysed by ratings agency Crisil shows that dung cake prices rose by
10.8%, while inflation in firewood and chips went up by 7.4% during the
year. Among rural households, 84% still use firewood and chips as cooking
fuel.Dung cake is used by 41% rural families. In urban areas, 23% of
families use firewood and 7% use dung cakes. The consumption pattern data
are from National Sample Survey Organisation's household consumption
expenditure study for 2011-12 -the latest available.

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Nikhil Desai
(US +1) 202 568 5831 <(202)%20568-5831>
*Skype: nikhildesai888*
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