Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

(Darren Dugan) #1
130 A case study of garcinia kola nut production-to-consumption system

CONCLUSIONS
This chapter has elucidated the importance of bitter kola as one of the many
NTFPs that are of socio-economic importance in the rainforest of south-west
Nigeria. Its commercialisation both in the domestic and national markets would
result in raising the standard of living of those involved in its trading activities,
in both the rural and urban centres. It is clear that through the volume of
production each season the bitter kola trade is more profitable than other
NTFPs such as wonder cola (Bulchhoizia coriacea), sponge (Acanthus montanus)
and cola nuts (Cola nitida/acuminata) in the J4 area. In part because of its
high amenability to storage, both fresh and dried, traders’ market margins
were also found to be higher than those of other NTFPs.
The ongoing increase in commercial value of bitter kola has made the
cultivation of the tree more important—and of greater interest—to the isolated
villagers of the J4 area of Omo Forest Reserve as well as other bitter kola
production areas in Nigeria. The development of domestication and cultivation
strategies for improving Garcinia kola trees should be possible, as has been
undertaken with many other NTFPs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank the Centre for International Forestry Research and all members
of staff, both in Cameroon and Bogor, for their particular interest in the study
of NTFPs in general and for sponsoring this case study. I am grateful for the
opportunity given to me by the Centre for Environment, Renewable Natural
Resources, Management, Research and Development to carry out the study.
Special thanks to Dr. L. A. Adebisi and Dr. (Mrs.) A. O. Adu of University of
Ibadan, Nigeria, and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, respectively, for
their willingness and prompt action in reviewing earlier versions of this paper.

ENDNOTES


  1. CENRAD, P. M. B. 5052, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]


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