ASSESSMENT OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPs) UTILISATION AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN IGABI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

Abstract

The study examined the assessment of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) utilisation among rural dwellers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Data were elicited through the administration of questionnaire to 80 randomly selected rural dwellers from 2 villages each, in 4 purposively selected wards in the Local Government Area based on availability of NTFPs. The wards are: Birnin Yero, Sabon Birni Dajis, Gadan Gayah, and Afaka. The result showed that majority (80%) had secondary education. Also, 44% of the rural dwellers are in their youthful age, married (44%) with house hold size of 11 – 15 members. The use of vegetables ranked 1^st in the list of NTFPs assessed. Households (33%) and trado-medical practitioners (30%) were perceived to use NTFPs more with frequent (≥2.3) level of utilisation than other rural dwellers while insecurity/kidnapping ranked 1^st in the list of utilisation constraints. The provision of proper arms and ammunition to forest guards and other security personnel to tackle the problems of insecurity in the study area was recommended among others.