Abstract

Non-Timber Forest Products provide enormous benefits to rural dwellers in Nigeria. These are open-access resources which are often exploited with limited restraints and therefore stand the risk of abuse and over-exploitation by the gatherers. This study therefore examined the various benefits and uses of some of these non-timber forest products in the rural communities. There are 750 samples for the study and data were collected by simple random sampling technique. Descriptive and budgetary analytical methods were used. Results indicated that the annual total revenue from snails/mushrooms/teak leaves was the largest while the least revenue was obtained from mushroom. The total annual gross margin was highest for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves combinations and was least for mushrooms.The net income is also highest for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves combination and was least for mushrooms alone.The estimated values for the rate of return on investment and profitability index for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves stood at 11.62 and 0.92 respectively. Rural dwellers need to protect and preserve the natural forests so that they can sustainably harvest the non-timber forest products for the advancement of their socio-economic status.

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