Page 5 - IJMEC-Vol.02-No.06
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Intl. J. of Mol. Ecol. and Conserv. 2012, Vol. 2, No. 6, 32-38
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and important to rural people. The non timber forest
product collectors are from diverse ethnic groups, and
the product collected reflects their socio-economic and
cultural heritage.
In view of NTFPs social, economic and cultural value
in rural livelihoods, various researches have been
carried out by different organization (Falconer, 1990,).
The significance of NTFPs in terms of social
economic and cultural importance in rural livelihood
has attracted global attention and consequently various
researches have been carried out by different
organisation to establish the role of NTFPs in rural
community transformation. (Wickens, 1995; Fletcher
et al., 1991,
097.
pdf; The World Bank, 1992). The products
collected are of various uses, some are consumed
directly others sold and some processed or
manufactures before consumption. Relatively few
rural women (household) depend on gathering as their
main source of income or subsistence. Most women
belong to families that traditionally engage in farming
and trading. They often possess the ability to cultivate
the land but are often restricted by lack of resources
such as capital and land for establishment. They also
possess knowledge and skill acquired over time in
trading and farming. However, the collection of
forest product is particularly important to rural people
who lack access to arable land and means to undertake
job. Falconer’s study (Falconer, 1990) confirmed the
role of non-timber forest products as a source of
income not only for gatherers but also for traders.
FAO (1995,
929
E00.htm) recognises the growing consumers’
interest in forest products and shortage of studies on
market, supply and policy etc. More so, one of the
effective management of forest is to move from
focusing on timber as the only profitable commodity
from the forest. It is widely known that there are
wealth of non timber forest products which play an
important role in meeting the nutritional needs of the
forest people, and also enable them to earn monetary
income through sales at local markets. Just as many
non-timber forest products are harvested from trees to
meet the increasing demand, yields can even be higher
than timber yields. In the early 90’scientist were
pushed to take a fresh look at the importance of
non-timber forest products (NTFPs) particularly health
food i.e. natural foods with therapeutic properties
capable of halting or averting the development of
certain diseases. These extensively traded products are
socially and economically valuable.
Non-timber forest products are among the oldest trade
goods in the world (Vantomme, 1991). Therefore, one
method has been to encourage the marketing of non-
timber forest products. This market based conservation
approach strives to provide economic incentives in
other to conserve the resource base (Kainer et al., 2003).
Consequently, the roles of economic incentives are
increasingly been included in conservation practices
throughout Africa. According to Carr et al (2000), over
100
non-timber forest products of major importance of
have been reported in International market and cola
nut is one of the products.
Cola nuts as one of many non-timber forest products
provide nuts and pods. It is perhaps second only to
palm oil in terms of importance in the list of
indigenous cash crops. It occupies a unique place in
West Africa and Central Africa e.g. Caribbean Island,
Sri Lanka and Malaysia (Eijnatten, 1969). Cola was
first noted in Egba division of Ogun State, Nigeria in
1902.
From Agege, Cola nitida cultivation presumably
spread to the forest area following first the course of
the railway line in Abeokuta, Ibadan and Offa
replacing the local Cola acuminata and penetrating
later along the stream and river banks into the guinea
savannah and at present South-South, and Eastern
state (Eijnatten, 1969). The case of the cola nut also
illustrates more pronounced regional concentration of
consumption. Cola nut grows on trees that are raised
almost exclusively in the south-western part of the
country. Favourable conditions include sufficient
rainfall and suitable sedimentary soils found mainly in
two states of Ogun and Oyo. Major market is in
northern Nigeria. Not only is it comestible of
everyday use and the strainer, comforter of weary
travellers and toiling labourers but it has also uses in
the social life and religious customs of the people. The
seeds are chewed as a stimulating narcotic, beverage
could be made by boiling powdered seed in water, and
also a cough syrup made from the juice extract
(
Tachie-Obeng and Browns, 2004,
.
Edu/Documents/2001/report-tachieobeng_brown2001.
