Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area, southwestern Ethiopia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We identified the major non-timber forest products (NTFPs), their contributions to household incomes, and the determinants influencing engagement of households in using NTFPs in the Bonga forest area of Gimbo and Decha Districts of Kaffa Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Six Kebeles (the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia) were sampled from two Districts and 150 households were randomly sampled using proportional-to-size techniques based on the number of farm households in each Kebele. Secondary data were collected from and focus group discussions were conducted with selected individuals. The farmers diversified livelihood activities such as crop and livestock production, collection of NTFPs and off-farm activities. NTFPs played a significant role in household incomes. The contribution from the major NTFPs (forest coffee, honey and spices) accounted for 47% of annual household income. The role of NTFPs was influenced by a number of factors. Variables including being native to the area (+), total land holding (+), possession of livestock (+) and access to extension (+) significantly affected forest coffee production. Age of household head (−), land holding (+) and distance of the market from the residence (−) significantly affected honey production. Size of landholding (+), distance to market (−) and distance of the forest from the residence (−) were significant variables determining the NTFP incomes derived by the households. Attention is needed in the design of policies and strategies for the well-being of households to the contribution of NTFPs to local incomes and the variables that affect the collection of NTFPs must be considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adilo M. 2007. The contribution of non-timber forest products to rural livelihood in Southwest Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Wageningen: Wageningen University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustino S, Mataya B, Senelwa K, Achigan-Dako EG. 2011. Non-wood forest products and services for socio-economic development. A Compendium for Technical and Professional Forestry Education. The African Forest Forum, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambrose-Oji B. 2003. The contribution of NTFP to the livelihoods of the “forest poor”: evidence from the tropical forest zone of South-West Cameroon. International Forestry Review, 5(2): 106–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andargatchew A. 2008. Value chain analysis for bamboo originating from Shedem Kebele, Bale Zone. MSc Thesis. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold JEM, Perez MR. 2001. Can non-timber forest products match tropical forest conservation and development objectives? Ecological Economics, 39(3): 437–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnold JEM. 1995. Socio-economic benefits and issues in non-wood forest products use. In: Report of the expert consultation on non-wood forest products, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 17–27 January 1995. Non-Wood Forest Products 3. Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babulo B, Muys B, Nega F, Tollens E, Nyssen J, Deckers J, Mathijs E. 2008. Household livelihood strategies and forest dependence in the highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Agricultural Systems, 98(2): 147–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekele T. 2003. The potential of Bonga Forest for certification: a case study. Addis Ababa: Paper prepared for the National Stakeholders Workshop on Forest Certification, 25–26 August 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belay T. 2005. Dynamics in the management of honey production in the forest environment of southwest Ethiopia: Interactions between Forests and Bee Management. MSc Thesis. Wageningen: Wageningen University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chikamai B, Tchatat M. 2004. Forest management for non-wood forest products and services in Africa. A report prepared for the project: Lessons Learnt on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa. Nairobi: AFORNET.

    Google Scholar 

  • Debela B. 2004. Contribution of non-timber forest products to the rural household economy: Gore District, Southwestern Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Wondo Genet: Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewees PA, Scherr SJ. 1996. Policies and markets for non-timber tree products. Environment and Production Technology Division. Discussion Paper Number 16. Washington DC, USA: International Food Policy Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovie DBK. 2003. Rural economy and livelihoods from the non-timber forest products trade. Compromising sustainability in Southern Africa? International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 10(3): 247–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ersado M. 2001. Inventory of woody species in Bonga Forest. Technical Report Number 1. Addis Ababa: Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1995. Non-wood forest products for rural income and sustainable forestry. Non-Wood Forest Products 7. Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 2001. Non-wood forest products in Africa: regional and national overview. Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetene A. 2006. Diversity and socio-economic importance of non-timber forest products of Menagesha Suba forest area, Central Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Wondo Genet: Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green SB. 1991. How many subjects does it take to do a regression analysis? Multivariate Behavioral Research, 26(3): 499–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gujarati DN. 2004. Basic econometrics. Fourth edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegde R, Enters T. 2000. Forest products and household economy: a case study from Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, South India. Environmental Conservation, 27(3): 250–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heubach K, Wittig R, Nuppenau EA, Hahn K. 2011. The economic importance of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for livelihood maintenance of rural west African communities: A case study from northern Benin. Ecological Economics, 70(11): 1991–2001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosmer D, Lemeshew S. 1989. Applied logistic regression. New York: A Wiley-Inter science Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer R, Sharma N, Munasinghe M. 1995. Valuing tropical forests: methodology and case study of Madagascar. Environment Paper No.13. Washington DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemenih M, Abebe T, Olsson M. 2003. Gum and resin resources from some Acacia, Boswellia, and Commiphora species their economic contributions in Liban, South-East Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments, 55(3): 465–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ndoye O, Pérez MR, Eyebe A. 1998. The markets of non-timber forest products in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. Rural Development Forestry Network Paper Network Paper 22c. London: ODI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann RP, Hirsch E. 2000. Commercialization of non-timber forest products: review and analysis of research. Bogor: Center for International Forestry Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paumgarten F. 2007. The significance of the safety-net role of NTFPs in rural livelihoods, South Africa. MSc Thesis. South Africa: Rhodes University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravi PC, Mahadevaiah GS, Muthamma MD. 2006. Livelihood dependence on non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Poster Paper prepared for presentation at the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, August 12–18, 2006: A Study of Jenukuruba Tribes in South India. Bangalore-560065, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roper J. 1999. Deforestation: Tropical forest in decline. Forestry issues. (reviewed April 2006) CFAN DIDA Forestry Advisers Network, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ros-Tonen MAF, Wiersum KF. 2003. The importance of non-timber forest products for forest-based rural livelihoods: an evolving research agenda. Bonn: Paper presented at the International Conference on Rural Livelihoods, Forests and Biodiversity, 19–23 May, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seyoum A. 2005. Conservation cost of wild population of coffee Arabica in Montane Rainforest of Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Alemaya: Alemaya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seyoum A. 2007. Economic value of Afromontane Forests of Sheka: Forest of Sheka. In: Fetene M (ed), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: MEHBER, pp. 183–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiva MP. 1993. Solutions to overcome impediments in forest development through MFP based management. Dehra Dun: Paper presented at the International Seminar on Minor Forest Products in Forestry, 17–18 April.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sultan M. 2009. The role of non-timber forest products to rural livelihoods and forest conservation: a case study at Harana Bulluk District Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Wondo Genet: Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taye B, Wirtu O. 2004. Marketing study of NTFPs in South Western Ethiopia. Southwest Ethiopia: NTFP Research and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teketay D. 2004–2005. Causes and consequences of dryland forest degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Walia, 24: 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teketay D. 2004. Forestry research in Ethiopia: Past, present and future. In: Balcha G, Yeshitela K, Bekele T (eds), Proceedings of a National Conference on Forest Resources of Ethiopia: Status, Challenges and Opportunities (27–29 November 2002). Addis Ababa: IBC and GTZ, pp. 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiruneh T, Tafa L. 2004. Livelihoods and non-timber forest products in Southwest Ethiopia. Southwest Ethiopia: NTFPs Research and Development Project.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wooldridge JM. 2005. Introductory Econometrics. A modern Approach. Third Edition. Washington DC: Thomson South Western.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bonga Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 101, Bonga, Ethiopia

    Ermias Melaku

  2. Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Zeleke Ewnetu

  3. Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

    Demel Teketay

Authors
  1. Ermias Melaku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zeleke Ewnetu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Demel Teketay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Demel Teketay.

Additional information

Project funding: This work was supported by Rural Capacity Building Project (RCBP).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Melaku, E., Ewnetu, Z. & Teketay, D. Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area, southwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Forestry Research 25, 215–223 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0447-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0447-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation