The physical and chemical properties of the extracted silica are described. In this paper, a low-energy and low-chemical consumption method is proposed to obtain silica from bagasse ash using alkali extraction and acid precipitation. Generally, bagasse ash is rich in silica (SiO2), and it is thus an alternative source for silica extraction. Only a small quantity of bagasse ash is utilized as pozzolan in concrete, and a considerable quantity is left unused due to its high carbon and crystallite content. Bagasse ash is the waste from the combustion process and is mostly disposed of as landfill. Sugarcane bagasse is a significant renewable energy source for the sugar and bioethanol industries. It is therefore recommended that government should ensure that all charcoal stakeholders are under the same organizational body, set up policy guidelines for their operations and create structural framework that will support and encourage forest establishment by the charcoal stakeholders for sustainability of the business. The results obtained indicated that charcoal enterprise was highly profitable in the study area. Wholesale and retail marketing of charcoal were not significantly different when subjected to T-test. The marketing profit accruable to wholesalers and retailers were estimated as N248 and N270 respectively. The Rate of Return (ROR) was 2.04, the marketing margin N258 and N289 per bag were obtained for wholesalers and retailers respectively. The R 2 value of 0.49 indicating 49% of the variation in output was accounted for by the explanatory variables and F-statistics of 5.726 was significant at 1% probability level. The source of wood was significant at 1% while labour and experience were significant at 5% probability level. Labour, experience and sources of wood were the three variables influencing charcoal production. The result shows that 15 preferred and used tree species for charcoal production were identified. Descriptive statistics, production function using linear regression method, budgetary analysis, marketing analysis and T-test analysis were used. A total of 90 questionnaires were equally administered. Purposive sampling techniques were adopted for the administration of the questionnaire. Three different sets of structured questionnaires were administered on Charcoal producer, wholesalers and retailers respectively. Charcoal is one of the non-timber forest products that serves as a major source of livelihood for both rural and Urban dwellers in most tropical countries, Therefore, economics of charcoal production and marketing in Kokona and Lafia local government areas of Nasarawa State was investigated.
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