Why quest to modern energy urge to rural household: implication to mitigate climate change and food insecurity, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Energy is a key factor of socio-economic development. Currently, however, millions of people across the world suffer from energy poverty, having little or no access to energy for cooking, lighting, heating, cooling or using information and communication technology. As a result this study was aimed to investigate the domestic energy sources for households and the impact of biomass use as a source of energy on the environment, and food insecurity in North highland of Ethiopia. A total of 398 heads of households were interviewed individually using structured questionnaire, whereas 16 focus group discussions and 12 key informant interviews were conducted using discussion guiding checklist. Descriptive data analysis techniques were used to analyze quantitative data while content analysis method was used to analyze qualitative data. Result The use of traditional fuel such as fire wood, charcoal, crop residue, animal dung, leaves, and any biomass residue that can be combusted were used as energy sources in the area, which aggravate degradation of agricultural land. The move towards the adaptation of modern energy sources was not common because of many barriers such as lack of finance (98%), access (97%), durability (97%) and lack of awareness (93%). The findings showed that land degradation has been severe to the extent that no grains can be collected from crop production. As a result, people were exposed to both chronic and transitory food insecurity and hence the majority of people make their living on food aid. Conclusion This calls for minimizing land degradation by introducing alternative energy sources to the households. In this regard, technology developers, bilateral organizations and NGOs can play their role to promote alternative modern energy technologies that are easy accessible both in terms of availability and affordability, and operable by rural people.