Contributions of Forest Products to Rural Households’ Food Security and Livelihood in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
This study was designed to analyze the contributions of forest products to rural households food security and livelihood in Ikwuano L.G.A. of Abia State. The specific objectives of the study are to examine socioeconomic characteristics of rural farm households in the study area, to identify the major forest products harvested by rural dwellers in the study area, to assess the contribution of forest products to farm household income in the area, to estimate the determinants of rural farm household involvement in forest products harvesting and to estimate the determinants of rural farm households food security in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was used. Primary data were collected from rural farm household heads using a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, probit regression and food security index. Result revealed that the mean age for the household head was 46.4 years and the mean household size was 7 persons per household. The primary occupation of the households head was occupations of rural household. The area are majorly farming. Major forest products harvested for the household in the area are fruits for consumption and sales (85.6%), firewood (77.8%), local pea (74.4%), forage for livestock feeding (58.9%), oil bean (ugba) for sales and delicacies (51.1%), bush meat for consumption and sales (45.6%), charcoal for cooking (44.4%), mushroom for consumption and sales (41.1%), medicinal plants for health purpose (35.6%), timber for sales (31.1%), honey for consumption and sales (27.8%), palm wine for consumption and sales (20.0%) and roots and herbs for health (15.0%).The findings show that 54.4% of the rural households were food insecure while 45.6% were food secure. The study also shows that the major determinants of rural households' involvement in forest products harvesting are gender, education, distance to forest and primary occupation. Gender of the household head has significant and negative influence on the food security status of rural farm households. Farm size has significant and positive influence on the food security status of rural farm households. Access to credit has significant and positive influence on the food security status of rural farm householdsThe significant determinants of the food security status of rural farm households in the study area are gender, farm size and access to credit. Gender of household head has significant and negative influence on food security status of rural farm households. Farm size has significant and positive influence on the food security status of rural farm households. Access to credit has significant and positive influence on the food security status of rural farm households.