Non-Timber Forest Products: Constraints and Prospects in Rainforest Communities in Nguti Sub-division, South West Region, Cameroon

Abstract

This study assessed the constraints and prospects of production and marketing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by farmers. This study aimed to identify the main constraints and prospects of production and marketing of major NTFPs within the Nguti Sub-Division. Three villages were randomly selected in the Subdivision. Thirty (30) respondents were sampled in Ediengoh, Ofrikpabi and thirty two (32) from Ekenge making a total number of 92 respondents. Descriptive statistics was also used to calculate frequencies, percentages and chi-square was used to test for the level of association between variables at p=0.05. Forty six percent (46.7%) were men while 53.3% were women. Forty two percent (42.4%) had farming experience for 6-10 years. The main NTFP that was produced and marketed was Irvingia wombulu at (31.5%) and the least was Gnetum africana which stood at (3.3%). The major marketing problems challenging the farmers of the NTFPs was significant (X^2cal=86.95, X^2tab=7.815) with lack of storage facilities at the top followed by inadequate market information and low purchasing power of buyers. The major constraint of production noticed was duration taken for vegetative growth (X^2cal=82,26, X^2tab =7.815), followed by inadequate  access to credits and inadequate  extension support/ advisory services. There is therefore urgent need for producers to embark on simple processing and packaging technologies to reduce wastage and value add to the products. This study recommends domestication of fast growing species and government to improve rural road networks for produces taken to markets.