Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

122 A case study of garcinia kola nut production-to-consumption system

Bitter kola producers in the socio-economic context

Within the J4 area of Omo Forest Reserve, the villages of Osoko, Abeku, Olooji,

Mile 1, Fowowa and Etemi are well known to traders in NTFPs (see Table 2).

Apart from the planting of cash crops such as plantain, cocoa, cola nuts and a

few arable crops, the collection and processing of NTFPs for sale are a major

preoccupation throughout the season. Such NTFPs include Buchhlozia coriacea

(‘wonder cola’), Copolobia lutea (Fulani nomadic staff), Mitragyna ciliata

(Abura; wrapping leaves for cola nuts), bush meat from various game species,

bark and roots of various trees, Acanthus montanus (washing sponge) and

more importantly, the nuts of Garcinia kola.

Tribe % Remarks

Ijebu 60 The landlords (descendants)

Oyo (Ibadan) 10 Cocoa tree crop farming

Ondo 10 Cola nitida/acuminata

Igbo 5 Trade in NTFPs

Hausa 5 Trade in NTFPs and provide labour

Others 10 Food crop farming and trade in NTFPs

Table 2. Distribution of tribes living within the J4 area

Source: Karimu 1999.

The population of J4 has increased in numbers from initial surveys carried

out in 1916–18 and 1925 (see Table 3). A survey in 1949–50 recorded a population

of about 2,500, a 40% increase. Today it is clear that both the population and

number of settlements have continued to expand. For example, Aberu, which

was a camp with two huts and 11 people in 1949–50, is presently a large

village of about 100 houses and 2,500 people. The village now has a primary

school, a rural health centre and a bore-hole well that supplies potable water.

Another example is Fowowa Camp. In 1949 it was an insignificant camp, but

now it is a popular ‘nerve-centre’, an assembly point for all other villagers in

the J4 area and the seat of the Ogun State Aforestation Programme with a

population of about 5,000 in 1997 (Karimu 1999; Ladipo 1999; Ojo 1999). At

the time of this study the project manager of the Ogun State Plantation

Programme estimated the total population of the J4 area at between 10,000

and 12,000.

Period 1916–1918 1925 1949–1950 1999

Number of settlements 30 45 100 205

Number of villages 5 20 50 100

Population 610 1,300 >5,000 10,000–12,000

Table 3. Population growth within J4 area villages

Source: Karimu 1999.

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