Assessment of Effects of Forest Resources Exploitation and Utilization Activities on the Livelihood of Rural Households in Benue State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue V, May 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Assessment of Effects of Forest Resources Exploitation and Utilization Activities on the Livelihood of Rural Households in Benue State, Nigeria

Unongo, E. A.¹, Musa, M. W.² and Akinola, M. O.²

¹Department of Agriculture Extension and Communication, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Unongo, E. A.

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the effects of forest resources exploitation and utilization activities on the livelihood of rural households in Benue state Nigeria. Multiple regression model was used to empirically quantify the 11 livelihood variables that were tested for their effects on the livelihood of rural households in the study area to achieve the objective of the study. The results of the study revealed that some livelihood variables such as: improved procurement of food items; increased households assets; improved expenditure on on-farm activities; improved households expenditure; improved expenditure on cultural festivals/ceremonies and ease of sponsoring wards in schools have significant effects on the livelihood of rural households in the study area at 1%, 5% and 10% level of significance respectively. The study concluded that the forest resources exploitation and utilization activities have positive effects on the rural households in the study area. It was recommended that: rural households should pool financial and available human resources at their disposal to establish and manage processing industries in the rural areas for processing the abundant exploited forest resources for generating households income as well as to meet national consumption and exportation; forest guards should be employed from the rural communities and be paid monthly by government to safeguard forest resources against irrational exploitation by exploiters; and rural communities should be mobilized to engage in self-help efforts for the rehabilitation of rural roads, construction of new roads and bridges for easy transportation of forest resources exploited to points of sale.

Keywords-effects, exploitation, forest, resources, utilization

I. INTRODUCTION

Historically harnessing and utilization of forest resources, including wood-forest resources and non-wood forest resources have played a key role in human societies. Today, developed and underdeveloped countries continue to harness and utilize timber for building and other construction purpose.

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