Abstract:
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) is a major source of income for many households.
Large amount of NTFPs are harvested and traded every year in Keiyo North District. Due
to limited information, inadequate cooperation and co-ordination among stakeholders,
there are many challenges in NTFPs exploitation, use and sale. This research was carried
out with the specific objectives of; finding out the number of households that participate
in NTFPs harvesting, estimating the amount of household income derived from the Non
Timber Forest Products and to investigate the factors influencing the harvesting of Non
Timber Forest Products. The study was carried out in Singore forest, Keiyo North District
in Elgeiyo Marakwet County. Primary data was collected through group discussion, key
informant survey, questionnaire survey and direct field observation. Secondary data was
collected from population census, Forest Department records, annual reports from
Ministry of Agriculture and Annual reports for local NGOs among others. The
quantitative data was analyzed using appropriate statistical tools like percentage, mean
and summaries accordingly. The Cragg Tobit alternative model was used to examine the
probability of a household to derive income from NTFP business activities, and
determinants of the level of contribution of NTFPs to household income in Singore area.
Results showed that among NTFPs, firewood was the most common source of income,
with 63% of households engaged in NTFP business activities having reported income
from firewood harvesting and sale. Following firewood was broom grass, sun grass,
weaving reeds, wild vegetables, medicinal plants, wild honey and game meat
respectively. Income from firewood activities also represented the highest share of
income (37%) followed by broom grass (19%), sun grass with a contribution of 12%
while wild vegetables are the next with 8% of total household income. Weaving reeds,
wild honey and game meat follow with 11%, 7% and 2% respectively. Overall, NTFPs
collectively contribute about 28% to total household income amongst those households
that reported income from this source. In order to determine the relationship between
poverty and dependence upon NTFPs, households were categorized into four income
quartiles according to total household income. The results showed that the wealthiest (top
25%) households depended less on NTFPs than the poorest (bottom 25%). However, in
terms of their contribution to household income, NTFPs constituted a higher proportion
of household income for the poorest quartile (45%, compared to 29% for the richest
quartile), suggesting that the rural poor are relatively more dependent upon natural
resources for their livelihoods. Therefore, since NTFPs seem to play an important part in
supporting rural household livelihoods, rural residents should be made to understand that
the continued availability of NTFPs depends largely, on the integrity of the forests
