Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

Phosiso Sola 253

Craft production

Approximately 93% of all the community members have at one time or another

participated in palm activities (Sola 1998). As a result, palm craft sales,

especially mats, brooms, and baskets are ranked third as sources of household

income by women palm producers (ENDA 1993; Sola 1998; MWG 2000). However,

the proportions of cash income from palm sales were different for men and

women. According to the Mabalauta Working Group, receipts from palm-related

products make up 7.6% of the men’s income and 19.6% of the women’s.

Sola’s (1998) study suggested that about 60% of the households in the ward

are involved in basket making and made an income of US$14.80 per year.

However, Xini households generated US$81.82 on average during that year. An

assessment made in 2001 reveals that incomes from the basketry industry

Figure 3. Proportions of Xini households engaged in particular livelihood

activities during 1998 (%, n = 54)

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