Abstract: The study was carried out from 2002 to 2003 to assess the role of women in the processing and marketing of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPS) in Benin City. Thirty nine species comprising 32 familiar were identified. The results revealed that there were significant differences among the market channels of NTFP (p<0.05). The observation was multi-channel system of distribution through LSD analysis. The labour employment explained by the results indicated that 57.15 and 42.85% of women were involved in marketing and processing of edible NTFPS, respectively. The indication results with ‘t’ test analysis showed no significant difference among the consumers’ preference of whether the edible products were processed or not. The result of ANOVA analysis revealed that there was significant difference among the time-interval of the shelf life of the processed edible NTFPs (p<0.05). It was observed that the results showed higher average profit for processing (52.59%) than marketing (47.41%) enterprise.
INTRODUCTION
In Africa rural communities women in particular have a rich traditional knowledge and properties of minor forest product (Haq, 2004). They have the necessary knowledge and skill to make good and quality products. Food processing as described by Bridier (1994) enables women to contribute to the family income, fulfill their obligations as daughters, wives and mothers, satisfy their own needs and maintain a degree of autonomy in the family group. This accounts for persistent dominance of women in the processing and marketing of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) especially edible ones. The result is because women have beliefs in nutrition and commercial potential of these resources. Palatability influences the way decision is taken to process the products especially those use as condiments since processing of food items is an extension of women, domestic activities.
The economic benefits of these products are considerable. Women and girls generally benefit from these activities. These are activities according to Oakey (2004) for household food security and economic stability. Most of these people as reported by Camera-Rojas et al. (2004) depend on selling NTFPs such as farm produce, fuelwood, honey and vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants. One reason for this gender division may be that many women have limited formal education which restricts them to small village-based cottage industries. As observed by ECART (1994) African culture also favours male dominance and therefore offers men advantage in terms of contact and access to credit facilities. These enterprises concerning NTFPs as revealed by Bridier (1994) provide income for many people who have no access to wage labour.
NTFPs provide access to food demand by the present lifestyle of the urban population in terms of quality and quantity as well as contribute significantly to the improvement of the standard of the urban markets. A housewife may also maintain control and increase her social status by performing the final steps of food processing herself. Processing is integrated into market operations due to conservative out look, some of these products remain dominant in spite of the introduction of industrialized products. For instance, NTFPs of spice for pepper soup as condiments dominate Royco, Maggi, Ajino moto etc as this meets the very specific taste requirement and preference of the consumer. Simple precaution may be cost-effective implemented to prevent contamination of food products by water; air borne hazards, insects, animals and human beings.
The employment of women in processing may be seen as lifeline since the economic condition continues to decline. Considerable percentage of Nigerian and other African countries as documented by Maiga and Sandhu (1994) depend largely on imports to meet food requirements because agricultural sector, in spite of its economic importance cannot provide enough. For this, NTFPs and other aspects of food should be processed and marketed in a large extent by the women so as to meet the needs of the people.
The study focuses on the prices of NTFPs, women employment in the enterprises, channel of marketing, out turn of the business as regard processing and marketing, average shelf life of processed items, consumers’ preference levels and assessment of seasonal market variations also deserve some attentions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study took place in Benin City Edo State. The area is located between (5°40”-5°E) and (5°-6°30” N) of total land area of about 1196.96 km2 (FORMECU, 1999). There are 12 major markets within the metropolis as well as the outskirts. Among these, seven markets were randomly selected, namely: New Benin, Uwa, Osa, Uselu, Yanga, Agbado and Oliha.
Sampling methods: Forty five students in forest economic class were divided into 7 groups ranging from 4 to 7 students in a group to identify various edible Non-timber forest products. Each group made reconnaissance visit to the market that was within its jurisdiction. In all the locations, similar observation were made indicating that most of the processors and sellers of NTFPs were mostly women, especially those involved in medicinal plants and food materials in the first year of the study. In the subsequent year researchers undertook the administration of questionnaires to the areas previously studied by the students. Then the respondents (women) were randomly selected according to Babbie (1990). Subsequently, questionnaires were administered to the respondents; processors and/or marketers and consumers of the products. The total of 202 questionnaires for the seven markets were utilized in the study area. The number of questionnaires in each market varied according to the sampling intensities (Table 1). The data collection was through the supply of questionnaires. Some reliable information was also obtained by individual contact (personal observation) and group contacts with randomly selected consumers whose views were of great importance in validating the views of the other respondents.
Statistical analysis: The data on the number of people employed in processing and marketing of NTFPs and the consumer preferences were analysed with the use of ‘t’ test, while ANOVA were used for data on market channels.
| Table 1: | Distribution of women involved in NTFPs enterprises |
| NWSN = No. of women selling NTFPs; NWPN = No. of women processing NTFPs; SIS = Sampling intensity of NTFPs Sellers; SIP = Sampling intensity of NTFPs processors | |
Simple percentage was used for data on the profit on the enterprises; processing and marketing of NTFPs and data in average shelf-life of processed food of NTFPs origin.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
There are several forest tree species where NTFPs are obtained and subsequently processed and sold in most of the markets on regular basis especially the edible ones, of these 39 species comprising 32 families were identified (Appendix 1) Attention was focused on names of NTFP s, uses, form utilized (processed and/or not processed) and price per given standard measurement. These products contribute significantly both to the improvement of the standard of the rural population and financial strength of urban marketers through poverty alleviation. This corroborates the finding of Bridier (1994) that the enterprise based on NTFPs provide income for many people who have no access to wage labour.
Market channels of NTFPs in the study area: Table 2 indicates the results of ANOVA, which showed significant differences among the market channel of Non-timber forest products. The results were further subject to fisher’s Least Significant Differences (LSD) analysis which revealed that there was variation among the means; Retailers, gatherers/farmers and whole sellers. In fact middlemen was not a feature in the marketing exercise because women involved in the enterprise did not depend on the latter. In addition, the consumers obtained the products from other channels outside the middlemen, which was insignificant. The multi-channel helped to expand the sales and market coverage of NTFPs. Thus created opportunities to distribute the products to the varied needs of different customers segments since NTFPs have different uses in various households at different occasions.
The products were readily available from various channels as indicated in the study under review.
| Appendix 1 | |
| Table 2: | Market channels e NTFPs |
This observation is similar to what Kotler and Armstrong (1996) described that there are many customer segments and channel possibilities in which many producers have adopted multi-channel distribution system; often called hybrid marketing channels.
| Table 3: | Labour employment in NTFPs enterprise % |
Labour employment in NTFPs enterprises: The employment of women in marketing and processing indicated the socio-economic roles of NTFPs (Table 3) The results also shows that 57.15 and 42.85% of women were employed for marketing and processing, respectively.
| Table 4: | Consumer preference of NTFPs |
| Table 5: | Average shelf-life of processed NTFPs |
| NB: The values in Table 6 are the arcsine-transformed values according to Akindele (1990), Fcal = 4.75 F (0.025) = 4.51 | |
| Table 6: | Average profit from NTFP’s enterprises (%) |
| Fcal = 3.57 and F. (0.05) = 3.01a | |
The variation might be due to the fact that the processing of NTFPs requires more expertise and training than marketing. Essentially, training in the marketing of NTFPs is simple and sometimes requires more orientation. Thus, there are more entrants to the aspect of the enterprise than the latter. The same is applicable to the cost of the factor inputs, which varies from one enterprise to another. Processing of NTFPs requires specific input cost while one can engage in marketing with any amount of money depending on the scale of operation.
Generally, women constitute 50-60% of labour force in agriculture, marketing and processing of food including edible NTFPs (Akinboade, 1992). This agrees with the predominance of women in the processing and marketing of edible NTFPs and in addition, this attests to the fact that forestry and agriculture play the role of custodian of a national fund, more especially, as they employ labour to the point that its marginal product equals to zero. Thus, with minimal rearrangement of resources, forestry and/or agriculture loses its labour force to other sectors; say industries and white-collar jobs. Essentially, a forest labour force policy is known to be passive, because it is based on excessive supply of labour and seasonal underemployment, which compels large number of them to seek employment elsewhere at a slightest opportunity. This observation is in affirmative with the report by Bridier (1994) which explained that NTFPs enterprises provide income for many people who have no access to wage labour.
Consumers’ preference of NTFPs types (processed and not processed forms): The result of ‘t’ test analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the consumers’ preferences as regards processed or not processed NTFPs (Table 4). In other words, it is a sensitive test for consumers of NTFPs as regards their preference of the product types or forms. This is in contrast with the views of Browing (1992) that opined the consumers differ widely in their preference about goods and services. In fact, this at variance with the view that the principle underlying preferences and taste play significant role in consumption decisions.
The reason could be the problems the economists consider why analysing some general propositions concerning consumer behaviour that are believed to be widely true. These propositions do not explain why people have the exact tastes associated with them. Thus they attempt to identify some common characteristics shared by the preferences of virtually everyone that are subjected. Hence, there is similarity between preferences of the two forms of NTFPs for consumers in the study under review.
Shelf life of processed edible NTFPs: Since edible NTFPs are locally processed, it is imperative that the time element to have a central role in and impact on the decisions of women involved in NTFPs enterprises, the intervals for shelf life is presented in Table 5. It was somewhat difficult to deduce a given time interval for the non-timber forest products considered in the study. In fact, the time element indicated the interval between the dates when the product was processed and the date when products was sold. Any time between these two dates the product might be judged still good for human consumption, that is free from biological and microbial agents that are injurious to the human system.
The results were further subjected to LSD that revealed a significant difference among the mean treatments. The variation in time intervals attests to the fact that shelf life of processed NTFPs ensures availability of the products all year round. Hopes of wider marketing have always been held back by limited shelf life of couple of days (Spore, 2004). This is because the supply of processed NTFPs displays characteristics of perfect competition where harvesting and processing are done at one’s volition without any form of restriction.
Profit from NTFPs enterprises: The basic reason for involvement in an enterprise is to make profit; the women engagement in NTFPs is primarily for profit making purpose (Table 6). It was difficult to evaluate specific profit on a particular Non-timber forest product, since there was variation in their costs and prices among the ranges of products under review. The average profits of the NTFPs deduced from processing and marketing were considered. The results of the study indicated that the average profit obtained from processing was higher (52.59%) than the one obtained from marketing (47.41%). Therefore, it is important for the women to engage in processing of edible NTFPs in order to reap more economic benefit from the enterprise.