Evaluation of Rice Husk Use Scenarios Incorporating Stakeholders’ Preferences Revealed through the Analytic Hierarchy Process in An Giang Province, Vietnam

Abstract

To process biomass energy successfully, it is necessary to incorporate a number of criteria that can be assessed either quantitatively or qualitatively for various biomass scenarios. It is also important to take into account the local people’s preferences and interests in the decision-making process. In this study, preferences of various stakeholders on rice husk use, such as urban households, rural households, rice mill owners, brick kiln owners, government officials, and scientists, were investigated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The results were incorporated with objective evaluation that was derived from Life Cycle Assessment. A holistic evaluation of rice-husk use scenarios was conducted. The results showed that rural households, rice mill owners, and brick kiln owners still want to use rice husk in conventional ways, while urban households, government officials, and scientists prefer to use rice husk with new technologies. The results reveal the aspects that each stakeholder thinks important and the conflicts between stakeholders. These can help government officials grasp the preferences of the local people which is important information for decision-making.