NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS TRADING AND RURAL LIVELIHOOD SUSTENANCE IN IBADAN STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The study on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) trading in the Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, was carried out to encourage sustainable forest management. All registered NTFP marketers in selected markets were the target respondents. A total of 125 questionnaires were distributed, 65 in Bodija and 60 in Oje. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and budgeting techniques. The results showed that the majority of the respondents were male (58.4%), aged 31- 40 years (36.0%), and married (93.6%), and 32.8% had a family of 3-4 members. In terms of education, 59.2% of respondents had secondary education, while 77.6% were native speakers. The main occupation was trading in NTFPs, with 43.2%, and 52.8% had between 11-20 years of experience. The variety of NTFPs being marketed include; honey, bitter kola, locust beans, dika nuts, and walnuts. The highest average ranking for locust beans was 0.96 in Oje, while kola nuts had the highest average ranking of 0.96 in Bodija. The benefit-cost ratio was 1.54 and 1.67 in Bodija and Oje markets, respectively, showing that for every ₦1 spent, 54kobo was earned by traders in Bodija and 67kobo in Oje. The main challenges facing NTFPs are government policies, inadequate social infrastructure, bad road network, scarcity of NTFPs, and overexploitation of NTFPs, with 100% each. Sustainable forest management practices should be adopted as a developmental strategy to ensure the continuous supply of NTFPs in the study area.