INVENTORY OF FOREST FOODS IN RURAL AREAS OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Forest supplies diverse products to mankind especially in the area of wild plants and animal food products. This research involved an inventory survey of forest foods in rural Areas of Oyo state, Nigeria. The research identified and described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; identified the available edible forest/wild plants and animals; determine the contribution of forest foods to nutrition and food security among the respondents as well as to identify and describe major problems facing forest foods collection. Primary data were collected from 150 respondents selected through random sampling techniques from seven Districts of the Local Government. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, logit regression and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The findings showed that a greater part of the respondents (58%) were male and 87% of the respondents were married. The results revealed that 47% of the respondents were in their active ages between 41-60 years and 76% of the respondents had family size of 1-5 persons. The study further revealed that over whelming majority of the respondents made use of forest food products. The major problem encountered by forest products users were unavailability of forest food products in the off season. Based on the findings, it was suggested that, there should be provision of good storage facilities and orientation of the farmers on modern ways of preserving wild foods to make them available throughout the year through staggered planting and processing.