Firewood

It is difficult to imagine a Naga household without a hearth to warm the home. There is nothing like the warmth of the fireplace when the nights are cold, sitting around the fireplace and soaking in on the warmth of the hearth, sipping the favorite beverage. The romanticism apart, the hearth holds a central place in the household as it is where the family bonding begins.
However, of late, stocking firewood in Mokokchung town has become a costly affair with the prices spiraling up during the past few years. A pick-up truck load costs no less than eight thousand rupees today and if the price rise pattern is any indication, it can be surmised that the costs will keep rising year after year. Firewood, traditionally an essential commodity in the Naga home is now becoming a luxurious one. It will be interesting to see if somebody did a thorough research on the supply and demand of firewood, causes of price rise and the scope of promoting firewood business as a genuine economic activity in Mokokchung.
Firewood is a renewable resource. Looking at it strictly from the environmental point of view, consumption of firewood for fuel may be regarded as an unsustainable practice. However, there is much to it than meets the eye. It is observed that a skewed view on firewood consumption is not the answer. While the issue of rapid deforestation is a matter of serious concern with Mokokchung’s forest cover declining over the years, it is to be understood that firewood is a renewable source and eschewing it is not going to mitigate the problem. There are also other advantages and disadvantages of wood fuel just as there are health issues surrounding it. However, it is not likely that the Naga household will want to say goodbye to firewood anytime soon.
The way forward, therefore, is to reconcile with the reality that consuming firewood for fuel is a Naga way of life and finding ways to balance it out should be an equal concern, so that its consumption does not outpace its regeneration, thereby keeping price rise under control. There are obvious reasons for the price rise of firewood, including inflation, but it should not be because of shortage of supply.
Good and sustainable forestry practices are an urgent need. Moreover, exploring avenues for firewood farming can be encouraged. Cultivating, harvesting, processing and delivering firewood has the potential to become a viable agro-business in the near future. As a sheer economic law, as long as there is demand for firewood, there will be supply.