Determinants of the Quantity of Non-timber Forest Products Collected from Forests of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to access the determinants of the quantity of non- timber forest products collected from Block A and Golf course forests of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Samples of one hundred and five respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using well structured interview schedules. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The study showed that all the respondents involved in the collection of NTFPs were female and native of the area with the average age of 51 years. Majority were not educated, were married with 5-7 household size, 11-20 years of experience and are closer to forest by 2-5 km. The study further revealed that eight types of NTFPs which includes firewood, bamboo, palm kernel, water leaf, pseudocolocynth, gum tree, Oil bean seed and drum tree were collected with the total weight of 12,385 kg. Firewood formed the highest quantity of NTFP collected. There was significant relationship between the quantity of NTFPs collected and the factors that are affecting it. Labour cost, transportation cost and extent of sales were significant at 1%, cost of tools and household size were significant at 5% while years of experience was significant at 5% probability level thus play a crucial role in the quantity of NTFPs collected. The problems militating against the collection of NTFPs were cost of transportation, restricted access to the forest, seasonality and perishability of the NTFPs. Thus, it can be concluded that IITA forest serves as a reservoir of NTFPs which are useful for food, medicine, cooking and wrapping or preservation of food items. The study therefore recommends that studies should be conducted on the domestication and conservation of NTFPs that are useful especially for medicinal purposes and for food to reduce pressure on the forest and ensured continuous supply and availability to the people that needs them