Contributions of women to non-timber forest products (NTFPs) sourcing, protection and propagation in Delta state

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the contributions of women in Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) sourcing, protection and propagation in Delta State using multistage sampling technique involving sixteen (16) villages from eight (8) Local Government Areas within the state. Well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 275 female respondents. The results showed that NTFPs were sourced both in situ and ex situ mainly from forests, farmlands and home gardens. Myths, taboos, dedication of certain areas to deity worship and deliberate propagation of NTFPs in home gardens and farmlands are ways the women have protected and conserved NTFPs. Propagation was mainly by means of seeds and was not dependent on age, marital status or educational qualification of the women but rather on occupation (P<0.05). The most commonly propagated NTFP is Elaeis guineensis (oil palm).