Publication Date: 2023/07/08
Abstract: Fuel-wood contributes to the household income of the inhabitants of Northern Taraba. However, the extent or the exact amount of income is not known, studied or documented in the study area and hence the need for this study. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for this study and at 30% sampling intensity, a total of 270 respondents were randomly selected for this study. Two hundred and seventy semi-structured questionnaires were developed, validated and administered to the respondents using the method of Adesoye, (2004) and Diaw et al. (2002) to generate data for this study with only 265 retrieved. Data generated was analysed using simple percentages, t-test and Logistic regression analysis at α0.05.The result on the contributions of fuel-wood to the income of the inhabitants of Northern Taraba indicated that, an average monthly income of N15,000 was derived from the sales of fuel-wood while an average monthly income of N10,000=00 was derived from other sources by the respondents in the study area. T-test analysis showed significant differences between the two sources of income at P<0.05 respectively (Table 2).The result of logistic regression analysis on reasons for the preference of fuel-wood to other energy sources showed; affordability, availability, reliability, Household size and Educational status with the highest odds – ratios of 2955.74; 60.08; 7.21; 6.84 and 3.71 while variables such as efficiency, had odds – ratio 0.02; safety, (0.00); marital status, (0.01); sex, (0.00) and age (0.00) respectively (Table 4). The findings from this study indicated that, fuel-wood is the most widely used sources of domestic energy. Also, an average sum of N15,000.00 per month was gotten from the sales of fuel-wood in the study area. Similarly cutting, felling, digging/uprooting, hand pulling, gathering/picking are used in harvesting fuel-wood in the study area. While destruction of animal habitats, erosion, loss of biodiversity, trekking long distances to harvest fuel-wood, escape of large animals into neighbouring Cameroun, late onset and cassation of rainfall were the effects of fuel-wood harvesting on sustainable forest management in the study area. Similarly, affordability, availability, reliability, household size and educational status were found to be the reasons for the preference of fuel-wood energy to other sources of energy for livelihoods in the study area. Based on the major findings above, the following are recommended; Avoid felling and digging /uprooting; the use of power chain saws to cut or fell tree should also be regulated; Seedlings of trees used as fuel-wood should be raised by government and non governmental organisations for onward delivery to farmers for planting on the farms to reduce pressure on wild trees etc to mention but a few.
Keywords: Contributions, Fuel-Wood Energy, Harvesting Method, Household Income And Sustainable Forest Management.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8126352
PDF: https://ijirst.demo4.arinfotech.co/assets/upload/files/IJISRT23JUN408.pdf
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