Effects of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) incomes on Income Inequality in Forest Communities: The Case of Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in eight forest communities of the Afaka Forest Reserve in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and twenty (220) household heads. Questionnaire was used to obtain data on Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) collection for the year, 2015. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, and the Lerman and Yitzhaki Gini model. The effect of NTFP income on total income was significant (p<0.01). The Gini coefficient for total income in the area was 0.3427 which was decomposed to reveal an NTFP income Gini coefficient of 0.4426, and a negative marginal income effect of 0.0664 on total income Gini coefficient, meaning that a 10 percent rise in NTFP incomes would result to a 0.664 percent decrease in total income inequality in the area. The reduction in income inequality from NTFP incomes revealed the positive contribution of NTFPs to household welfare in the study area. The study recommends continuous sensitization of inhabitants of these communities on the need to adopt sustainable NTFPs harvesting methods as they strive towards augmenting their incomes with NTFP incomes.