UTILIZATION OF WOOD RESIDUE IN CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN BENIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The study evaluates utilization of wood residue in charcoal production in Benin metropolis. 60% sampling intensity was used for the study with 16 purposively selected sawmills.Data were collected through primary and secondary sources. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages summarized in tables and charts and inferential statistics with the use of analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance. Ducan multiple range test were used to separate the means of variables that were significant at 5% level of significance. The results showed that 100% of the respondents uses wood residues for charcoal production in the study area. Off-cuts, bark, shavings, and slabs were the wood residues used by the respondents in their charcoal  production business.There was significant difference (P<0.05) among the various wood residues used in charcoal production. The observation made in slabs, significantly dominate other wood residues used in charcoal production. The results also showed that earth mound kiln (63.5%) was the  most common means of charcoal production, 36% of the respondents produces charcoal 2-4 times per month, this was closely followed by 34% of respondents produces charcoal 4-6 times per month. The results further showed that 71.9% of the respondents produces above 15 bags of charcoal per month. About 94.7% of the charcoal producers` affirmed that they had experienced varying health changes due to charcoal production and coughing and catarrh (100%) were the major health challenges experienced by the charcoal producers in the study area. The shortage of wood (35%) was the major problem mitigating charcoal production in the study area. The study concluded that charcoal production play a significant role in economy of many African countries due to the fact that wood residues are waste product of sawmill industry and they are collected at low cost/no cost to produce the charcoal.