LPG crisis: Cooking gas crunch revives firewood economy in rural and semi-urban Karnataka

Rising LPG shortages in Karnataka boost firewood demand, reviving an informal market as households and hotels seek alternatives.

The demand for firewood has seen a sharp rise across several rural and semi-urban parts of Karnataka in recent weeks, as disruptions in the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has pushed households and businesses back to traditional cooking fuels. The surge, triggered by supply constraints linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis, has also given rise to a parallel, largely informal, firewood market in many districts.

In Kodagu district, residents in small towns are increasingly turning to firewood, prompting estate owners and rural households to begin selling wood, a practice that was uncommon until recently. The trade has even moved online, with sellers using WhatsApp groups to connect directly with buyers.

Prithvi Bopanna, a resident of Gonikoppa in south Kodagu, said the demand has grown rapidly from both households and commercial establishments. “We are selling firewood from our estates, and also sourcing from other estates to meet demand. Hotels and homes are both purchasing,” he said.

According to him, a pickup jeep load of firewood is currently priced between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000, depending on quality and quantity.

A similar trend is visible in Shivamogga, where many hotels have been forced to abandon LPG-based cooking due to the non-availability of commercial cylinders. Several establishments have reverted to traditional firewood stoves, with piles of wood now a common sight on hotel premises.

A cashier at Meenakshi Bhavan, a hotel in Shivamogga, said the shift was unavoidable. “We had to switch to firewood cooking as LPG cylinders were not available. However, even firewood costs have increased, and we are sourcing and storing stock from private farms to ensure continuity,” he said.