AN EVALUATION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON RURAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

AN EVALUATION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON RURAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

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Background of Study

Forests produce a variety of items for domestic and industrial usage (Appiah 2009). Timber and non-timber items are divided into two categories (NTFPs). NTFPs serve a significant role in supporting the lives of populations living near forest regions, notwithstanding the high value of wood products across the world. NTFPs may not be the most important source of income for locals living near woods, but they do contribute considerably to household income, food security, and healthcare, as well as providing a variety of social and cultural values (Ojea et al. 2016; Endamana et al. 2016). Despite these functions, effective evaluation of NTFPs as an income component for indigenous people's lives remains a key difficulty (Ngalim 2011). Furthermore, because many developing nations lack a regular and thorough data gathering system at the national level, the impact of NTFPs in family income is underappreciated (FAO 2012).

NTFPs play a variety of roles depending on the economic and cultural situations in which they are used. NTFPs are commonly employed for cultural and recreational reasons, biodiversity protection, and rural economic development in developed nations. They are mostly used for subsistence and income generating in poor nations, particularly in Africa and Asia (Cocksedge 2006; Endamana et al. 2016). NTFPs are thus viewed as a safety net in developing countries, filling up the gaps caused by a lack of agricultural productivity or other types of calamities (Shackleton and Shackleton 2004; Paumgarten 2005; Angelsen et al. 2014). According to Agrawal et al. (2013), NTFP-based activities may be utilized to improve the economic and social health of people living in and near forest areas if emphasized by the government and other stakeholders.

NTFPs are estimated to be worth over USD 90 billion per year globally, with around a third of that being consumed in the local economy rather than entering the market (Pimentel et al. 1997; Mahapatra and Tewari 2005). Most importantly, NTFPs provide a major contribution to rural household income in many nations across the world. In Central and West Africa, for example, Shackleton et al. (2007) found that the proportions of household income from NTFPs revenue are sometimes equivalent to or more than school teachers' minimum salary. They went on to say that NTFPs merchants in the Democratic Republic of Congo made between USD 16 and 160 per week, while manufacturers made roughly 50–75 percent of that.

Previous research has found that rural Nigerian households earn up to 80% of their income through the selling of NTFPs (Jimoh et al. 2013). Furthermore, according to Ogunsawa and Ajala (2002) and Zaku et al. (2013), over 70% of the country's households rely on fuel wood as their primary source of energy, with daily consumption estimated at 27.5 million kg/day. As a result, gathering and processing of NTFPs has switched from subsistence exploitation and local market sales to international cross-border trading in several parts of the country. Harvesting game meat and snails for sale, for example, is now a substantial source of revenue in the high forest zones of Eastern and Western Nigeria practically all year (Onuche 2011). Honey, fuelwood, locust bean seeds, gum arabic, and charcoal manufacturing offer a lot of money for rural people in the Savannah zone of Central and Northern Nigeria (Jimoh and Haruna 2007; Jimoh et al. 2013). Other African nations, such as Kenya and Tanzania, have documented similar contributions of NTFPs to rural well-being (Campbell 1991; Schaafsma et al. 2014 and Mbuvi and Boon 2009).

The globe is facing a slew of issues, including rising poverty in many nations, particularly among forest-dependent people. The majority of these settlements are located in isolated places with few services and resources. As a result, small communities frequently become too reliant on the natural resources in their immediate vicinity. As a result, forest resources, particularly non-timber forest products (NTFPs), have become an important source of livelihood for the majority of forest-dependent populations. The goal of this study was to determine how non-timber forest products affect rural family income.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Agriculture's contribution to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining for some time (Adegeye, 1996). This is due to a combination of factors, including a change from agricultural to petroleum reliance, as well as a low return from farming. Different causes compound this, such as a lack of finance, a scarcity of land, an outdated agricultural style, and unproductive soil.

Several causes can contribute to land infertility. However, land degradation and deforestation are the most significant culprits. As a result, the government devised several strategies to slow the loss of the forest and its resources.

The policies have been in place for a decade, but the results have been disappointing. This is because persons who live on the outskirts of forest land have not been included in policy development. Forest policies have traditionally viewed forest people as indiscriminate users of the land, and hence tried to safeguard the land against abuse (FAO, 2009). This meant that forest residents were not taken into account when forest regulations were being developed. Because these people remain so near to the forest, any forest policy that ignores them will continue to fail. The rural population will continue to rely on the forest and its resources for survival (FAO, 2009).

The use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for household needs and revenue creation is on the rise. Over 80% of Delta State's rural population, as well as a small percentage of those who live in the state's urban regions, rely on (NTFPs) for household purposes (Akaeze, 2010). This is in addition to the amount used on a daily basis for other uses. The problem of excessive use of (NTFPs) such as fuel wood is due to the fact that: petroleum products are not always easily accessible, and they are still highly expensive.

The rural population considers the usage of fuel wood to be the most convenient, and they attempt to minimize the risk of using petroleum products for cooking and heating.

Because of the country's poverty level, the majority of rural people will continue to rely on forest products for subsistence (Agbogidi and Ofuoko, 2006).

Hydroelectricity was tried for residential cooking and heating, but it failed miserably. This can be due to the dangers of using hydroelectric power.

Because non-timber forest products will continue to be in great demand. If effective measures to restrict this behavior are not done, the forest will vanish one day. Forests are a resource reservoir, and as our forest goes, so do our resources.

If indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources continues, it will result in a variety of issues. These include social, cultural, and economic issues. These sociocultural issues are linked to the people's sociocultural worth.

The economic problem is one that is concerned with the money earned by rural people from forest resources and the sort of farming activity.

These are the issues that the researcher set out to solve.

1.3 Objective Of The Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the contribution of non timber forest products to rural household income. Specifically, the study aims at;

1. Identify weather non timber forest products has supported the livelihood of residents in rural communities.
2. Identify the non timber forest products which has supported the livelihood of residents in rural communities.
3. Determine the extent to which non timber forest products are being used by rural communities for domestic and income purposes.
4. Examine weather the exploitation  of non timber forest products has reduced poverty rate among residents in rural communities.

1.4 Research Question

1. Has non timber forest products supported the livelihood of residents in rural communities?
2. What are the non timber forest products that has supported the livelihood of residents in rural communities?
3. To what extent has non timber forest products been used by rural communities for domestic and income purposes?
4. Has the exploitation  of non timber forest products reduced poverty rate among residents in rural communities?

1.5 Significance Of  The Study

A revenue-generating alternative to timber production would be welcomed news in reversing the detrimental effects of over-exploitation on the ecosystem. This option may be seen in NTFP, which is abundant and mostly unexplored. Fuelwood, timber offcuts, canes, bamboos, rattans, poles, and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) abound throughout the country's forests. More cash is predicted to be earned by the controlled and sustainable exploitation of these NTFPs in commercial amounts, helping to supplement the lower revenue from timber and reducing poverty in rural regions while also creating needed jobs. As a consequence, the study's findings are intended to give adequate proof to forest managers and the government of the need to re-orient and concentrate their attention to the various wastes in the woods that could otherwise be transformed into much-needed cash and jobs.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is focused only on identifying weather non timber forest products has supported the livelihood of residents in rural communities, determining the extent to which non timber forest products are being used by rural communities for domestic and income purposes and examining weather the exploitation  of non timber forest products has reduced poverty rate among residents in rural communities. Hence the study is delimited to Aboh town, Delta State.

1.7 Limitation Of The Study

The study limitation was distance and its attendant cost of travel in order to obtain information to write this study. Another limitation to the study is short time factor which did not give time for thorough research work, hence gathering adequate information becomes very difficult.

Finally, lack of materials on the topic. This is new in the area of non timber forest products income in Nigeria. Therefore, the researcher resolved to seek friendly approach in order to obtain the needed materials or information from the right sources.

1.8 OUTLINE OF STUDY

The study work has been structured into five (5) chapters. Chapter one highlights the background of the Study, statement of the problem, purpose of study, significance of study, research questions, scope of study, limitation of study and the outline of study. Chapter two constitutes the literature review capturing theoretical and statistical empirical literature on issues pertaining to the study. Chapter three presents the methodology, showing details of the steps taken to conduct the study, research design, study area, population, sample and sampling procedure, instrument for data collection, method of data collection and how data analysis was done. Chapter four analyses and discusses the results of the study. The fifth chapter will entail the summary of findings,  conclusion and recommendations.

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