Livelihood Implications of Non Timber Forest Products Trade in Ogun State, Nigeria.

This study assessed Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) trade in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State through personal interview of 100 marketers with semi-structured questionnaires to get information on their socio-economic and business characteristics. Data generated were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics (Tables and percentages) and budgetary technique. The result shows that 52% of the NTFPs handlers were females, 62% are within age 21-50, 71% are married; 39% had primary school leaving certificate, 32% holds Senior School certificate, 16% had tertiary education while 13% had no formal education. The major occupation of the respondents are trading (36%), farming (34%), hunting (22%) and civil service (8%). The major NTFPs handled by the respondents are medicinal and cosmetic plant products (25%), food products and fuel wood (20% each) and extractive products (16%). Forty two percent got into the business by inheritance, 28% entered through training while 30% entered on both. Majority (66%) are not aware of any governmental restriction on the collection and utilization of NTFPs in the area, the highest mean income (N29,794.12) while the lowest mean income (N13,981.25) comes from fiber. The study concludes that NTFPs are important natural resources providing sustainable source of livelihood (>$2/day) for the residents of the study area and recommends state-wide inventory of NTFPs to provide databank for planning and enforcement of appropriate forest laws and regulation to ensure sustainable utilisation of the available NTFPs resources in Ogun state.