Comparative analysis of the factors affecting rural household energy use: Case study of Pakistan and Turkey

Energy has become an integral part of human life and dependence on energy is increasing with every passing day. Energy has also played a very important role in the development of countries as well as idividual households. Types of energy used by rural and urban households are very different. The sources of energy under use are categorized as traditional, modern, and renewable energy sources. Majority of the traditional energy sources are dirty in nature and their use with traditional technologies has adverse impacts on human health and environment. Similarly, fuel, chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides used in agriculture are the main source of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The population in rural areas of developing countries is mainly dependent on traditional fuels, due to free and easy access to them or unavailability or un-affordability of modern energy sources. These dirty fuels like crop residue, animal dung, fuelwood, and coal have negative impacts on the development of the households. On the other hand, use of modern fuels like electricity, LPG, and natural gas has positive social and economic impacts on the households. Green revolution, followed by country's aspiration for self-sufficiency in food production and low technical knowledge of farmers has led to increased use of energy inputs in crop production. Global warming and increasing concerns of people about climate change have many implications for energy used in household and agriculture. The main focus of this study was to examine energy use in rural areas for household and crop production in two developing countries, Pakistan and Turkey. For purpose of comparison, primary data was collected from study areas in both countries in the year 2017. The analysis of energy use was divided into four parts: first of all household energy use patterns were examined, in second part factors affecting the household's use of different energy sources were identified, later on, energy use in wheat production and related GHG emissions were analyzed, finally, a comparison of within countries (highland vs. plain areas) and across countries was done for both household energy use and for wheat production. The findings of the study revealed that dirty fuels are still in use by a major proportion of rural population in Pakistan, the supply of modern energy like electricity and natural gas is not 100% and also unreliable, another commercial energy LPG is though used by almost half of the population but mostly as a second fuel. In Turkey, access to electricity and LPG is hundred percent and solar for water-heating is also adopted by the whole population. However, traditional fuels like residue, fuelwood, and coal are also being used by a significant proportion of the population in the study area. Different climatic, location, and supply variables besides economic and demographic factors were found to be affecting the household choice of energy sources for domestic use. Significant differences among households energy use patterns in highland and plains areas were found in Pakistan and little in Turkey. Finally, energy use and GHG emission analysis of the wheat showed that, in Pakistan FYM, fertilizer, and diesel fuel has the highest share in total input energy consumption in rain-fed wheat, while in irrigated wheat fertilizer, water for irrigation, and diesel were the main energy inputs. In Turkey, fertilizer has the highest share in total input energy consumption followed by diesel fuel. Furthermore, fertilizers and diesel fuel have the highest share in the total GHG emissions in both countries. Based on BCC model the estimate of target energy use showed that there is a great scope for energy savings and consequent decrease in GHG emissions from various input sources. Based on the analysis and outcome of the study, it can be said that there are important policy implication for both countries. Government of both countries should invest more in power generation to ensure universal access to electricity and other modern energy sources in order to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts to eradicate poverty from rural areas will have long-lasting impacts, it will results in switching from traditional biomass to modern energy sources as income has been found as an important factor for fuel-switching. As far as energy use is concerned, to improve energy efficiency, rather than traditional methods of price increase, taxes, or enforced introduction of improved technology, behaviors of individual related to energy use should be changed. Moreover, a policy targeting on the involvement of related governmental departments to promote adoption of efficient energy technologies, optimize efficient use of biomass and facilitating penetration of renewable energy technologies at household level should be formulated. Three important set of actions can be recommended; societal awareness (about adverse impacts of dirty energy use and benefits of efficient use of energy), government intervention (rural energy at heart of energy policy and formulation of energy policy not isolated from other socio-economic planning), and public-private partnership (to solve problems like energy access, affordability, and adoption of new and efficient technologies).