Patterns and Key Determinants of Clean Cooking Fuel Adoption in Tamenglong District, Manipur

This study examines cooking-fuel use patterns and the determinants of clean-fuel adoption in households in Tamenglong District, Manipur, a remote and socio-economically marginalized region. Using a cross-sectional survey of 500 households across three subdivisions and employing a multinomial logit model, the study analyses the factors that determine households’ reliance on firewood and use of mixed (firewood-dominant or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-dominant) fuel for cooking. Findings indicate that firewood remains the primary cooking fuel for 57% of households, while 43% use LPG either exclusively or in combination with biomass. Fuel stacking is widespread, particularly among s middle-income households, reflecting a “bulky-middle effect”. Income, education, employment status, the gender of the energy decision-maker, and spatial location relative to distribution centres emerge as significant determinants of LPG adoption. Decision-making by female heads of households and higher educational attainment strongly increase the likelihood of LPG use. Importantly, the study highlights that beyond economic and infrastructural constraints, traditional kitchen practices exert a powerful cultural influence. Households that adhere to traditional hearth-based cooking continue to prefer firewood due to its multifunctional role in food preparation, preservation, and sociocultural practices. The results underscore that for policy interventions to be effective, they must move beyond initial provisioning of access to LPG and address affordability, last-mile delivery, and culturally embedded practices.