ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF PEOPLE IN ARORESAWOREDA, SIDAMA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to assess the contribution of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to livelihoods at Aroresa woreda in four kebele’s (kechabo, Bubisa, Elitama and Sabo), Sidama Zone, SNNP, Ethiopia. The specific objectives of study were assessing the common types of NTFPs utilized by household in the study area, determining the contributions of NTFPs to household food security and income generation and examining socio-economic factors influencing household members’ accessibility to NTFPs. The sample size of 150 respondents was selected randomly from Kechabo, Sabo, Elitama and Bubisa kebele’s of study area. A structured questionnaire was administered for primary data collection. Secondary data of NTFPs collection and crop production were collected from Forest Office and Woreda Agricultural Office respectively. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS_20 Package using both descriptive and inferential data analysis methods. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the socio economic factors influencing collection of NTFPs and pair t test were used to compare various incomes from NTFPs and other sources. The results showed that there was significant increase of NTFPs collection in the kebeles. It has also showed that there was positive relationship between collection of NTFPs and some socio-economic variable including household size, age, education, occupation and duration in years of staying in the area. Non-Timber Forest Products accounted for 92% of all respondents in the kebele’s; however they were also engaged in other production activities. It has also indicated that NTFPs are utilized either directly or indirectly as a solution to food insecurity and low incomes among the households. The results further showed that income from selling NTFPs is lower than from selling of agricultural products, but it is higher than other sources like business, labor wages and employment in the study area. Hence, it was recommended that the government should employ more forest officers and provide education on direct economic importance of NTFPs and should create awareness for forest communities on the extraction, how to use and their sustainability. Additionally, further researches should be done in the area to investigate more results on NTFPs.