ANALYSIS OF LIVELIHOOD BENEFITS DERIVED FROM FOREST RESOURCES UTILIZATION AMONG FARMING POPULACE IN KOGI AND NIGER STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed of livelihood benefits derived from forest resources utilization among farming populace in Kogi and Niger States, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 326 of rural populace. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview scheduled and analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency and mean). The result revealed 87.1% of the rural farmers had increment in the procurement of the food items while 77.3% improvement in expenditure on cultural ceremonies. Moreover, truck N47, 852 and car N56, 763 were the most working and household assets acquired by rural populace in the last season. It was recommended that farming populace should engage in the use of forest resources in order to enhance their livelihood. Also, farming populace should utilize forest resources in order to acquire more household assets.