By: AGBELADE A. D.; Onyekwelu J. C.;
Abstract:
This research work was carried out in the rainforest and derived savanna ecosystems of Ondo State, Nigeria to investigate the market potentials and socio-economic contributions of Chrysophyllum albidum to rural livelihood sustainability. Three villages and six markets (comprising of three urban and three rural markets) were purposely selected from each ecological zone for on-farm and market assessments, respectively. Two categories of pre-tested structured questionnaires were used to obtain information from the respondents. Farmers in both ecosystems were between 31 and over 60 years old, while the traders were between 21 and 60 years old. Majority of the farmers (37.5 – 80%) and traders (51 – 85.7%) in both ecosystems did not have formal education. A high percentage (92.3% to 100.0%) of C. albidum trees were found within farmlands. Depending on the ecological zone, the tree species could produce between 200 and over 1000 fruits. The fruit was being used for various purposes including food, nutritional supplements, income generation, medicinal, etc. While majority of the farmers (54.2 to 100.0%) harvested and semi-processed the fruits before sale, a few (4.8 to 29.0%) were selling the whole tree on farmland for the marketers to harvest the fruits. Annual income generated from the sale of C. albidum fruits was between N150,000.00 and N200,000.00 in derived savanna and rainforest ecosystems, respectively. This research paper highlights the market potentials and the socio-economic contributions of Chrysophyllum albidum in two ecological zones of Ondo State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Market potentials, Socio-economic contribution, Chrysophyllum albidum, Livelihood sustainability, Rainforest and derived savanna Ecological zones
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