Evaluation of Domestication and Commercialization of Non-timber Forest Products

Evaluation of Domestication and Commercialization of Non-timber Forest Products:

A Case Study of Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benth) Leaves in Three Forest Land Systems

1Adebisi, A. A., 2Ladipo, D. O., 1Okunlola, O.A., 1Okoro-Robinson, M. O., 3Liz Bester, 1Busari, O. M.
1Oyo State College of Agriculture,  P. M. B. 10, Igboora, Oyo State Nigeria
2Centre for Environment, Renewable Natural Resources, Management, Research and
Development, P. M. B. 5052, Ibadan, Nigeria.
3International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, P. B. 2667, YaoundeCameroon
Correspondence: sholay4luv911@yahoo.co.uk

Accepted on July 16, 2013

Abstract

Deforestation and land devegetation for other development purposes have destroyed lots of habitants of many individual renewable natural resources or non-timber forest products (NTFP) including that of Thaumatococcus daniellii. This has now made the production of leaves of this food – items wrapping plant species among the Yoruba speaking of the southwestern part of Nigeria, a dwindling venture. The commodity becomes scarce and comparatively more expensive than it used to be in the market as farmers have not been shown the possibility of its large-scale cultivation. Its market potentials have not been considered very important and lucrative. This study attempted to evaluate this plant’s regenerating and marketing potentials as well as it’s lucratively as a readily available source of cash income to the poor resources famers/NTFPS collector. It has been observed that Thaumatococcus daniellii could be successfully regenerated/ domesticated under natural or secondary forest land-use systems. Growth parameters and average land areas covered by the plants in two years were observed to be the highest under domestication site. Regenerating characteristics of the plant indicates an estimated leaf production of 54,889 numbers per hectare in 2 years or 27,444 leaves per hectare per annum. Market survey of volume of trade in the leaf of T. daniellii in Mamu, Oja-oba, Onidundun, Aleshinloye, Aba-Nla and Dugbe markets around Ibadan and its environs indicated an average volume of N100, 000.00 (one hundred thousand naira) per season or US $666.67 per season.

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