Study on agroforestry practices in Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

A study was carried out to assess the various agroforestry practices in Abak Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires, physical observations and oral interview were used to collect data from agroforestry farmers (respondents) in the four clans (Abak, Otoro, Midim and Afaha-Obong) in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Results showed that 67.25% of the respondents were males whereas 32.75% were females. 81.75% of the respondents were in the age brackets of 30-49 years, while those in age brackets 50 years and above were 18.25%. Married people constituted 89.50% of the respondents with 0.50% as single; 56.75% engaged in fulltime farming, 20% were civil servants/farmers and 23.25% combined petty trading withfarming. Local knowledge (84.50%) largely contributed to agroforestry knowledge of the respondents. Educational qualifications of respondents were: FSLC (45.25%), WAEC (48.25%), OND/NCE (6.00%), while 0.50% had HND/Degree. Types of agroforestry practices adopted by respondents, plant utility-form, mode of cultivation of agroforestry farms, problems affecting production of agroforestry, and source of nutrient in agroforestry farms in the study areas, all showed different significant results (p=0.05). Further study is recommended to determine the appropriate plant compositions of individual plant species in the various agroforestry practices.KEYWORDS: Agroforestry practices, ecological benefits, socio-economic livelihood, Abak LGA, Nigeria

Socio-economic contribution of African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne) toward sustainable livelihood in eastern, Nigeria

Home gardens provide perspective for conservation of plant genetic resources while contributing to improving livelihoods. The Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) the conserve are gathered for household consumption and commercial uses; they have formed an inherent part of rural economy for millennia and equally serve as safety net during periods of adverse environmental changes such as famine due to crop failure. Accordingly, the study was carried out to examine the level of income generation, processing, distribution of sales as well as the importance of Treculia africana to food security in Southeastern, Nigeria in 2015. The study was conducted in Okigwe agricultural zone, Imo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed for this study. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistic. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were female (53.70%) and were married (84.40%). The source of the product was mainly from the home gardens (76.70%) and the reason for harvesting was for income generation and subsistence use (household consumption) (77.78%).The product was best harvested during rainy season (68.00%) when fruits are most abundant (48.90%). Majority of respondents (57.80%) sold Treculia africana kernel in cigarette cup ranging from ₦110−₦160 while the weekly income was between ₦2500−₦4500. The major problem affecting price rate of Traculia fruits and kernels was labour (25.20%), transportation (16.90%) and local tax (22.20%). It is therefore, recommended that appropriate conservation measures be put in place using sustainable policy framework that would enhance its in situ and ex situ conservation and equally ensure it protracted use in order to increase its abundance and availability.Keywords: Income, dietary, culinary values, African breadfruit, ukwa, sustainable Livelihoo