Course Code : AGR 328

COURSE TITLE : NON-WOOD PRODUCTS AND UTILIZATION

Ankush

Introduction

This presentation is concerned with the impacts of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) on people. Probably the majority of rural households in developing countries, and a large proportion of urban households, depend on forest products to meet some part of their nutritional, health, house construction, or other needs. Very large numbers of households also generate some of their income from selling forest products.

Most people are continuously adapting their livelihood strategies to changing circumstances, and this can mean that the role of NWFPs is changing, often very rapidly; some people turning to greater use of such products as their circumstances change, others moving to use of alternative products or materials, or to different activities.

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

Non-wood forest products play an important role in improving rural livelihood as maximum population of rural people is dependent on forest for their food and other products.

For the majority of rural people, forest foods add variety to diets, improve palatability, and provide essential vitamins, minerals, protein and calories.

Rural people collect and sell various plants and animal products from the forests and sells in local markets to generate income. Out of these products, some are highly valuable and provides sufficient money to the rural people.

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

Much house construction in the rural areas (and in many urban areas) in developing countries involves use of forest products.

Although much of this is use of timber for door frames and poles for the frame of mud walls, this frame is typically bound together using canes, lianas, raffias or twines made from other fibrous plants, and roofs are commonly covered with grass, bamboo, reeds or leaves. Where it is available, bamboo is heavily used.

It is reported that in Bangladesh over 70 percent of rural dwellings use bamboo as the prime building material

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

It has been estimated that rural non-farm work provides 20-45 percent of full-time employment in rural areas and 30-50 percent of rural household income.

Income earning activities based on marketable forest products may be seasonal or year-round, or may be occasional when supplementary cash income is needed. The role of these forest-products activities varies depending on the availability and profitability of alternative employment, the seasonal availability of the forest products, the need for cash income, access to the forest resource, the composition and condition of the forest resource, and access to markets

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

For most of the world's rural households, NWFPs provide essential food and nutrition, medicine, fodder, fuel, thatch and construction materials, mulch and non-farm income.

These products are particularly important in relieving the "hunger periods" in the agricultural cycle, and in smoothing out other seasonal fluctuations.

Dealing in NWFPs can provide employment during slack periods of the agricultural cycle, and provide a buffer against risk and household emergencies.

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

Poor households, in particular, depend on these products for their livelihood because they usually have more access to the forest than to other resources.

For the same reason - greater dependence on open-access forests, for lack of other options women usually rely more than men on NWFPs for household use and income. In many places, women are responsible for the household activities that involve forest-based foods and medicine, as well as fuel wood.

In this respect NWFPs are particularly important to women, addressing their needs for food security and nutrition.

Role of NWFP in Improving Rural Livelihood

In local, urban, national and international markets, forest foods and medicines contribute substantially to national economic growth.

NWFPs are therefore important to three main groups: Rural populations (the largest group) who have traditionally used these

items for livelihood and social and cultural purposes. Urban consumers (a smaller group, but growing faster), who purchase

these items. Traders, and product processors, whose numbers in the NWFP sector

increase as urban markets for these products grow.

Category Of Non-Wood Forest Products

Plant Products :

Food : oil seeds, nuts and bamboo shoots

Fodder

Medicines/Aromatic : medicinal plants and spices

Colorants/Dyes

Utensils/Crafts/Construction : Bamboo and Rattan

Exudates : tannin extract and lacquer

Other plant produce : Beedi leaves and lac

Category Of Non-Wood Forest Products

Animal Products : Living Animals

Hides, skins and trophies

Honey and beeswax

Bush meats

Medicine

Colorants

Other edible animal products

Other non-edible animal products

Reference

http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9480e/v9480e04.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/v7540e/V7540e14.htm

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