An Investigation of the Impacts of Forest Water Resources Exploitation on the Livelihood of Rural Households and their Intensity of Utilization in Benue State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue V, May 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

An Investigation of the Impacts of Forest Water Resources Exploitation on the Livelihood of Rural Households and their Intensity of Utilization in Benue State, Nigeria

Unongo, E. A.¹, Jande, J.A.² and Iorhemba, S.T.³

¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
²Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
³Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture Yandev Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract: – The study was conducted to assess the forest water sources utilized and the intensity of utilization by the rural households in Benue State, Nigeria. The study was achieved through the use of well-structured interview schedule purposively administered to 300 eligible respondents in the study area. The study revealed that streams (68.0%) and rivers (66.7) were identified as the major sources of forest water resources very highly utilized (56.0%) for human use and crops irrigation (50.0%) during the dry season by the rural households. The study concluded that the identified water sources streams and rivers played a major role in improving the livelihood of the rural households in the study area. It was recommended that government should build irrigation dams in the study area for dry season farming to improve farm production; more efforts should intensified by government, private organization and individuals to drill bore holes and wells in the study area for human consumption and other domestic purposes, the forests should be protected against unsustainable exploitation by members of the community and outsiders through the setting up of community forest guards, this will help preserve the water sources.

Key words- water sources, exploitation, households, intensity, forest

I. INTRODUCTION

It has long been appreciated that forests offer numerous sources of water to neighboring communities where benefits are derived from these in different ways (Madsen, 2011). The sources of forest water are streams, natural ponds, rivers, springs and dug wells. In developing countries, like Nigeria, forest water requirements of rural households for consumption, fed to livestock and for irrigation purposes especially in the dry seasons when water becomes scarce (Richard et al, 2010).

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