Multi-dimensional energy poverty patterns around industrial crop projects in Ghana: Enhancing the energy poverty alleviation potential of rural development strategies

Abstract

Several countries across sub-Saharan Africa have promoted industrial crops to boost rural development, including rural energy poverty alleviation. However, little evidence exists about the intersection of rural development and energy poverty in industrial crop settings. We undertake a household survey to explore multidimensional energy poverty patterns around three operational industrial crop projects in Ghana (oil palm, jatropha, sugarcane). We conduct 850 surveys with households with different involvement in these projects (e.g. plantation workers, smallholders), as well as household not involved (i.e. control groups). Overall, distinct patterns emerge between sites and groups, reflecting the different area, project and household characteristics. Jatropha and oil palm plantation workers register lower energy poverty levels than their respective control groups, while oil palm and sugarcane smallholders register either the same (or higher) energy poverty. This is largely because income from engagement in industrial crop activities can reduce energy poverty for some groups, but only where modern energy options are readily available. In reality, other factors can be equally important, including other livelihood activities (e.g. sugarcane/palm oil processing) and the gender of household head. Such distinct patterns and local dynamics must be understood when aiming to achieve positive energy poverty alleviation outcomes through industrial crop expansion.