Use of indigenous technology in processing and utilization of non-timber forest product in south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is richly endowed with numerous non-wood resources such as Treculia africana, Brachyestegia eurycoma, Pencladethra macrophylla and Detarium microcarpum. Investigation on the use of indigenous technology in processing and utilization of B. eurycoma, T. africana P. macrophylla and D. microcarpum was carried out in five (5) eastern states of Nigeria. Purposive sampling of the population to ensure that only those targeted was adopted in Akwa, Abalikili, Umuahia, Owerri, and Enugu states. Information used for this paper came from both primary and secondary sources. Ten (10) respondents were interviewed from each secondary source of information. The use of indigenous technology to process these forest products to forest foods is currently limited by use of crude methods, inability to expand production and lack of encouragement by government. The government of Nigeria can develop a political will to make it more attractive to men for greater productivity, through research into modern methods of processing of forest foods.

Keywords: indigenous technology, processing, utilization, non-timber forest products