Research article

Role of Forest in Promoting Rural Livelihood in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

^*1Gaya A.S., ²Hammanjoda B. and ³Jalo J.N

¹Department of Forestry Technology, Adamawa State College of Agriculture P.M.B. 2088 Ganye, Adamawa State, Nigeria

²Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Adamawa State College of Agriculture P.M.B 2088 Ganye, Adamawa State, Nigeria

³Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Adamawa State College of Agriculture P.M.B 2088 Ganye, Adamawa State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: augustinegaya@gmail.com

Accepted 19 July 2016

Abstract

This study determined the Role of Forest in Promoting Rural Livelihood in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identify the factors that could enhance food security, examine the benefits derived from forest for promoting rural livelihood, and to identify the measures that could encourage the sustainable management of natural resources in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used; descriptive statistics was employed for the analysis of data. The study revealed that majority (31.3%) of the respondents fall within the age of 30 – 49 years of age with 35% of them having access to primary education. Majority of the respondents (93%) are farmers. 75% of them are male who are married (60%) with their household sizes of 11and more people in a household, with 6-10 years of farming experiences. Majority of the respondents identify food production (84%), food storage (60%), and food selection (61%) as major measures that could enhance food security in the study areas. Major benefits as pointed out by the respondents includes: fuel wood (70%), charcoal (60%), food/ fruits (51), timber (52%) and non- timber products (52%). The respondents identify aforestation (71%), avoidance of deforestation practice (71%) and agro-forestry practice (71%) as the major measures that could result to sustainable management of natural forest resources. The study recommended the following: encouragement of aforestation and agro-forestry practices, discouragement of illegal hunting of bush meat, avoidance of discriminate setting of fire on forest and bush land, rural household to be educated by extension agents on the use of new technologies for the storage of forest products, workshops and seminar to be organize to educate rural dwellers on the management of natural resources in the study area.

Keywords: Forest, rural, livelihood, household, role, sustainable, natural resources.