Utilization of non-timber forest products in protected areas in southern Ghana

B.Sc. Nana Fenyi Forson

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The extraction, marketing and trade of non-timber forest products have been highlighted as a means of increasing income, enhancing the lives of the rural poor and decreasing food insecurity in developing countries. This study sought to assess the role of non-timber forest products commercialization in ensuring food security among households in the Ankasa conservation area of south-western Ghana. Specifically, the study documented the kind of non-timber forest products collected and their uses, incentives and barriers to commercialization of non-timber forest products, factors influencing income from the forest and the contribution of non-timber forest products to household food security. The convenience sampling technique was employed to select 90 farmers. Household food insecurity access score was used to measure the food security status of the households. Bar charts, percentages and t-tests were used to profile the socio-economic characteristics and farm characteristics of the respondents. Spider diagram and bar chars were used to assess the incentives and barriers to commercialization of non-timber forest products. A multiple linear regression model was employed to assess the factors influencing income from the forest. Propensity score matching and endogenous treatment model were employed to assess the contribution of non-timber forest products to household food security. The results from the study revealed that rattan was the most collected and important specie in the studied area. The majority 52.2 % of the respondents highlighted non-timber forest products as an alternative source of income as the main incentive for non-timber forest products trade and lack of agricultural support as the pressing barrier to commercialization of non-timber forest products. The multiple linear regression model showed that farmer groups and household size had a significant positive effect on income whereas gender had a significant negative effect on income. The results from the propensity score matching and endogenous regression model revealed that commercialization, gender and access to credit had a significant negative effect on household food insecurity. On the other hand, years of education and number of forest products collected significantly affected household food insecurity positively. The study recommends that government should implement policies to support farmers with provision of subsidies. There should be education of farmers on sustainable harvesting of forest species and farmer business school programs to enlighten farmers on safe packaging and marketing as consumers are increasingly aware of the quality of food consumed.

Keywords

Use value, Food security, Commercialization, Endogenous treatment regression

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.
• Reader: Kathrin Meinhold, Mgr., externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / International Development and Agricultural Economics