Assessment of income generation on non-timber forest products in Eneme Community Forest Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed income generation on non-timber forest products in Eneme Community Forest Reserve in Taraba State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in selection of the communities that were used in the study. A total of 127 copies of structured questionnaire for information collection were administered to respondents who are involved in Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) collection and income generation activities. Data collected were analyzed by descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The study showed that there is variety of non-timber forest products in the area. Most (69.2%) of the respondents earned between ₦11,000.00 and above monthly (₦132,000.00 yearly) from the sale of NTFPs. The findings revealed that the respondents are involved in collection of Irvingia gaboneensis (76%), bush meat (55%) as hunters, honey harvesting (44.8%), harvesting of piper quineensis (39.4%) of the respondents. Firewood has a major share in NTFPs income generation with (99%) of respondents engaging in its collection. Other NTFPs which constitute less than 5% include Luffa cylindrical (sponge), Massuleria accuminata (chewing sticks), worms, and insects. The major problem confronting respondents in the collection and sale of NTFPs is scarcity of the NTFPs in the reserve (90%). Others include bad road network (75%), lack of market (55%), lack of transport (54%) and insecurity (31%). The income generation from NTFPs was significantly influenced by age and family size. It is therefore recommended that in order to sustain this important forest reserve, government and the inhabitants should embark on enrichment planting in the forest with fast growing exotic and indigenous tree species.