CONTRIBUTION OF SOME NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN SOCIO¬-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF GOMBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed contribution of some Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in socio-economic development of Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used. Three wards were selected (Ga’anda, Gombi-North and Gombi-South) out of the total wards. Three communities were also selected from each ward using purposive sampling. Twenty (20) respondents from each community were selected on average, making 180 respondents using snowball sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results obtained from socioeconomic characteristics showed that males dominate 58.64%, within ages above 40 (39.51%) and were married (57.40%) having a household size of 6-10 (62.96%) with non-formal education (60.50%) and mostly (41.97%) laborers through the use of family labour (67.9%) which are involved in NTFPs collection/harvest (80.2%), for 11-15 years (34%). Fruits were widely collected (30.9%) and used as food (43.2%) in monthly harvest (43.2%) and partially engaged (53.7%) as income generation at ₦10,000 - ₦20,000 (31.1%) through selling NTFPs (74.1%). Training and payment of school fees (35.7%) and employment (25.9%) were the most important benefits from NTFPs. Total income of ₦5,250,000 from NTFPs sales annually. Inferential statistic showed that the source of capital is highest with a t-value of (3.32), followed by Age (2.45), NTFP collection (0.66) and educational level (-0.83) having the lowest value obtained at 5% significant level. It is concluded that there is a need for improved market conditions. It is recommended that policy reforms, capacity building, infrastructural development and price stability in sustainable management of NTFPs for long-term benefits in rural communities.