REPORT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY OF ELEVEN

COMMUNITIES WITHIN OMO BIOSPHERE RESERVE,

OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

BY

NATIONAL MAB COMMITTEE

EDITED BY B.A. OLA-ADAMS

SUBMITTED TO

UNESCO REGIONAL OFFICE IN ABUJA

February 2014

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. The Socio-Economic Assessment report forms part of the activities of the

Green Economy in Biosphere Reserve (CEBR - KOICA) project for Omo

Biosphere Reserve Ogun State, Nigeria. The project is being funded by

Korea International Cooperation Agency, (KOICA), a donor agency of the

Republic of Korea.

2. The assessment covers eleven communities namely, Abeku 1, Abeku-

Temidire, Eseki, Etemi, Idi-Egun, Fowowa (J4) Oloji, Osoko, Sojukodoro, Tami-Tami and Tibetu-Ibiade.

3. Data were collected using both Quantitative and Qualitative methods. The

quantitative method involved use of structured questionnaire while the

qualitative method employed participatory appraisal techniques.

4. A gender analysis was carried out for many of the findings to provide

information on differences in livelihoods, perspectives and resource

utilization.

5. The distribution of the sampled inhabitants also reflects local inhabitants by

sex. Male respondents (81.70%) outnumber the female respondents

(18.30%). This shows that there are more males than females in the forest

areas. A large majority of the inhabitants are married. This is related to the

age distribution of the sampled respondents (31 – 50 years).

6. At large proportions of the inhabitants have both primary and secondary

education (69.28%) and some with Tertiary education (22.23%).

7. Majority of the respondents have between 2 and 6 children (57.52%),

between 6 and 8 children (25.49%), and more than 8 children (19.61%).

Very few of the respondents have less than 2 children.

8. Most of the inhabitants are migrants (50.23%) while indigenes constitute

(48.77%). Majority of the inhabitants are non-indigenes although they come

from the dominant ethnic groups in the South-West.

9. Farming is the major primary occupation of the respondents. Some

complement farming with hunting or fishing as primary or secondary

occupation. Other sources of income include food processing and vending,

hairdressing, tailoring, restaurant and medicine store.

10. The cash crops grown by the male farmers include Cocoa, Kolanut, Plantain,

Orange while female farmers concentrate on food crop production such as

cassava, vegetable, Pepper, Maize, Yam and Agro-processing activities.

Other sources of income include collection and sale of firewood, snails,

wrapping leaves, Mushroom and sponge.

11. General level of income of the people is low and therefore low standard of

living. However, it was observed that income per annum was higher where

cash crops are grown.

12. Preferences for income generating activities varied with individuals and

communities. Males showed strong preferences for snail rearing, wildlife

domestication, fishing and raising of seedlings of fruit trees. Females show

preferences for snail rearing, apiculture and aquaculture/fishing.

13. There are some social groups within the reserve. These groups are

cooperatives, associations and unions. Social groups are very significant for

sustainable development and livelihoods. It may be necessary to strengthen

some of these local groups as channels of information dissemination, training

and mobilization.

ii

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii

LIST OF TABLES iii

LIST OF FIGURES vii

APPENDIX 21

1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 2

2.1 OMO BIOSPHERE RESERVE 2

2.1 LOCATION OF STUDY 3

2.2 METHODOLOGY 4

2.3 LIMITATION OF STUDY 4

2.4 DATA ANALYSIS 5

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5

3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS 5

3.1.1 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY SEX 5

3.1.2 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL STATUS 6 3.1.3 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY EDUCATIONAL STATUS 7

3.1.3 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY AGE. 8

3.1.4 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 9 3.1.5 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD 10 3.1.6 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY RESIDENCE STATUS 11

IV

3.1.7 PRIMARY OCCUPATION AND SOURCES OF INCOME OF RESPONDENTS 12 3.1.8 LEVEL OF INCOME 12 3.1.9 PREFERENCES FOR INCOME GENERATION

ACTIVITIES 13 3.1.10 SOCIAL GROUP 14

4.0 NEEDS ASSESSMENT 15

4.1 ROADS 15

4.2 SCHOOLS 15

4.3 HEALTHCARE 16

4.4 ELECTRICITY 16

4.5 PORTABLE WATER 16

4.6 MARKETS 17

4.7 FARMLANDS AND FARM INPUTS 17

4.8 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 17

4.9 COMMUNICATIONS 17

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 18

6.0 REFERENCES 19

7.0 APPENDIX 21

v

LIST OF TABLES

NO TITLES PAGE

1. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY SEX 5

2. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL STATUS 6 3. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY EDUCATIONAL STATUS 7

4. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY AGE. 8

5. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 9

6. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD 10 7. DISTRIBUTION BY RESIDENCE STATUS 11 8. PREFERENCES FOR INCOME GENERATION

ACTIVITIES 13

vi

MAP

FIGURE 1 MAP OF OMO BIOSPHERE RESERVE

vii

1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Ecosystem services are life-support systems that provide a full range of goods and

services that are vital to human health, livelihoods and natural assets including

wildlife habitat and diversity, watershed services, carbon storage and scenic

landscape.

The local economy of the residents of biosphere reserves is almost totally based on

the dependence on the natural resource. The residents base their livelihoods on

agricultural production and processing, collection of non-timber forest products,

firewood, snails, mushrooms, hunting and fishing. The residents who directly

utilize these resources do harvest the resources unsustainably and they are not likely

to have other sources of livelihood because they are poor and unskilled. This

unsustainable economic and harvesting practice has sparked a renewed focus over

the need for a commitment to “green economy”, in order to ensure a sustainable and

desirable future that provides social equity, poverty reduction and human well-

being. UNDP defines green economy as “one that results in improved human well-

being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and

ecological scarcities”

It is in realization of the goods and services provided by Biodiversity for many

developing local economies that the Republic of Korea through Donor Agency

(KOICA) decided to establish biodiversity business development projects in three

African Counties – Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.

The project aims at contributing to the Conservation of biodiversity by reducing the

pressure on biodiversity, poverty reduction and sustainable development in Omo

Biosphere Reserve through a well-developed and managed biodiversity business.

The project will use a collaborative and consultative approach to develop, design

and implement a number of biodiversity business initiatives in Omo Biosphere

Reserve.

1

This socio-economic study of eleven (11) communities in Omo Biosphere Reserve

is aimed at determining the residents perception of biodiversity resources of the

reserve, resources being extracted from the reserve and their preferences of

biodiversity business development projects for their livelihoods.

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 2.1 OMO BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Omo Biosphere Reserve is located between 60 351 to 70 051 N and 40 191 to 40 401 E

in the Southern Part of Nigeria about 135KM North East of Lagos and about 80km

East of Ijebu Ode and covers about 130,500 Hectares.

The Forest was ceded to Government on the 8th of October, 1918. The Agreement

was made between the District Officer, Ijebu Ode on behalf of the Government and

the Awujale of Ijebu Ode on behalf of the Ijebu Native Administration.

The reserve was for the joint purposes, use and benefits of both parties (Karimu

1998) subject to the following conditions.

(i) Royalty on all timbers felled will be paid to the Chiefs.

(ii) That no license for timber area shall be granted to commercial firms

without the consent of the Chiefs.

(iii) That the act of reservation shall in no way curtail the Fishing and Hunting

rights of the people.

(iv) That all land under cultivation at reservation shall remain under

cultivation, existing village communities within the reserve be permitted

to stay and provision be made for adequate farm expansion; and

(v) That the reserve be known as Jebu Forest Reserve, that Ijebu Native

administration be consulted as to the management of the reserve, subject

to the control of the Forestry Departments that the said administrator may,

if it so wishes, appoint its own officers to assist in the protection of the

reserve.

2

The Omo Forest Reserve was legally constituted as a Forest Reserve by order No 10

of 1925 and the order was amended in 1952. On the 2nd June 1950, an exploitation

agreement for concession area and exploitation of timber or firewood from the

concession area was signed between the native authority of Ijebu Province and Omo

Sawmills of Nigeria Limited.

A working plan was drawn for the management of the reserve in September 1957.

Rotation period was set at 100 years and the working cycle covered 1167 square

kilometers covering the whole of Omo Forest Reserve and Osun Forest Reserve.

1088 square kilometers were to be managed under the Uniform Shelter wood

Compartment System.

A Strict Nature Reserve which covers an area of 8km2 was demarcated in 1949

(Ola-Adams and Iyamabo 1977) and was approved by UNESCO as a Biosphere

Reserve in 1977. The Ogun State Government approved a 135km Buffer zone

surrounding the Biosphere Reserve. The physical characteristics, climate,

vegetation, soil, Flora and Fauna of Omo Biosphere have been fully described (Bada

1998, Karimu 1998, and Ola-Adams 1999).

2.1 LOCATION OF STUDY SITES Eleven communities of the enclaves were purposefully selected based on proximity

to the project office location for the survey. The communities are Tami-Tami,

Abeku-Temidire, Eseki, Sojukodoro, Osoko, Oloji, Abeku I, Tibetu Ibiade, Etemi.

Idi-Egun, Fowora (J4). Twenty questionnaires were used in sampling in each

community. A total of 220 questionnaires were distributed. (Appendix).

2.2 METHODOLOGY

The procedures adopted during similar exercise for BRAAF Project (Ola-Adams

1999) were followed in this socio-economic survey for the KOICA Project.

3

Data were collected using both quantitative and quantitative methods. The

quantitative method involved use of structured questionnaires while the quantitative

method employed participatory rural appraisal techniques. These include

observatory techniques, focused group discussion, using guideline/checklist,

interviews of neighbourhood communities, case study and study of secondary data.

The inclusion of both males and females in Data Analysis is important to provide

information of differences in livelihoods, perspectives and resource utilization.

2.3 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY The most difficult challenge facing the socio-economic survey research team were

logistical constraints of poor road network and transportation. In most cases the

members of the team had to take motorcycles to reach the settlements. In other

cases, they had to abandon the motorcycle and cross stream or a river as in the case

of Etemi. The poor conditions of the roads made it imperative that only 4-wheel

vehicle with auxiliary gear could reach the settlements.

Due to the number of settlements to be visited and the relatively limited time to

complete the study, in spite of all the logistical problems encountered, the size of

sample was small. Twenty (20) questionnaires were distributed in each community

irrespective of the population size of the community. Some residents were reluctant

to respond to question or source or amount of income generated from biological

resources extracted from the reserve.

Timing of the survey also affects the amount of information available to the team.

Christmas and New Year Holidays were also approaching and some of them had

travelled to their home towns thereby reducing the number of people available for

interview. This is responsible for the paucity of people interviewed in some

settlements.

4

2.5 DATA ANALYSIS Data collected from the 220 respondents were coded according to study variables.

Analysis was carried out in form of frequency counts and percentages.

Interpretation of data was based on evidence provided through data generated from

the study.

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

TABLE 1

3.1.1. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY SEX

COMMUNITIES FEMALE MALE TOTAL Abeku 1 8 12 20

Osoko 5 15 20

Oloji -- 9 9

Eseki 2 8 10

Sojukoro -- 3 3

Tami – Tami 1 12 13

J4 Fowora 5 14 19

Abeku - Temidire 1 19 20

Etemi 1 12 13

Tibetu - Ibiade 5 15 20

Idi Egun -- 6 6

TOTAL 28 125 153

PERCENTAGE 18.30 81.70 --

5

The distribution of the sampled inhabitants also reflects local inhabitants by sex.

Male respondents (81.70%) outnumber the female respondents (18.30%). This

shows that there are more males than females in the reserve. Most of their wives

and children stay in the town where there are better opportunities for education,

healthcare and job opportunities while the head of family stays in the forest area to

engage in livelihood activities and join the rest of the family at weekends.

TABLE II

3.1.2. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL STATUS

COMMUNITIES

Female

Male

Female

Male

DIVORCE

Abeku 8 11 -- 1 -- Osoko 5 15 -- -- -- Oloji -- 9 -- -- -- Eseki 2 - 4 1 3 Sujukodoro -- 3 -- -- -- Tami – Tami 1 12 -- -- -- J4 (Fowora) 5 12 - 2 -- Abeku Temidire 1 19 - -- -- Etemi 1 12 -- -- -- Tibetu - Ibiade 5 15 -- -- -- Idi - Egun -- 6 -- -- -- TOTAL 28 114 4 4 3 PERCENTAGE 18.30% 74.57% 2.61% 2.61% 1.97%

A great majority of the inhabitants are married (92.81%). This is related to the age

distribution of the sampled respondents (31-50 years). Some of them have their

families living with them, other have their families in adjoining towns. Most of the

inhabitants are married to one wife. Marital status determines the social status of

members of the community.

MARRIED SINGLE

6

TABLE III 3.1.3 DISTRIBUTIONS OF RESPONDENTS BY

EDUCATIONAL STATUS

A large proportion of the inhabitants have both primary and secondary education

(69.28%) and some with tertiary education (22.23%) as shown in Table III. Most of

the inhabitants were literate and could read and write. There are relatively few

inhabitants that do not have primary education (5.88%). The formal education level

gives them opportunities to have access to sources of information which is

important for information dissemination and awareness creation for training and

extension services.

COMMUNITIES

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male Abeku 1 1 5 9 1 2 1 -- Osoko 3 5 1 10 -- -- -- 1 Oloji -- 1 -- 2 -- 5 -- 1 Eseki -- -- 1 1 1 5 -- 2 Sojukodoro -- -- -- 3 -- -- -- -- Tami - Tami 1 5 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 J4 2 2 3 5 -- 7 -- -- Abeku Temidire

-- -- 1 8 -- 10 -- 1

Etemi -- 8 1 4 -- -- -- -- Tibetu Ibiade 4 5 -- 8 -- 1 1 1 Idi Egun -- 2 -- 2 -- -- -- 2 TOTAL

11

29

12

56

2

32

2

89

PERENTAGE 7.18% 18.98% 7.84% 36.60% 1.31% 20.92% 1.31% 5.88%

TERTIARY ILLITERATE PRIMARY SECONDARY

7

TABLE IV 3.1.3 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENT BY AGE.

COMMUNITIES

Female

30

Male

31 -

Female

40

Male

41 -

Female

50

Male

Above

Female

50

Male

Aberu 4 1 2 7 1 3 1 1

Osoko 1 -- 3 5 2 8 -- 1

Oloji -- 2 -- 3 -- 2 -- 2

Eseki -- 2 -- 2 1 1 2 1

Sojukodoro -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- 1

Tami - Tami -- 1 -- 6 -- 4 -- 2

J4 (Fowora) 1 4 2 6 2 2 -- 2 Abeku Temidire -- 3 1 8 -- 7 -- 1

Etemi 1 1 -- 2 -- 5 -- 4

Tibetu Ibiade -- 1 3 1 2 4 1 8

Idi Egun -- -- -- 3 -- 2 -- 1

TOTAL 7 15 11 45 8 38 4 25 PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS

4.58% 9.18%

7.19%

29.41% 5.23%

24.84%

2.61% 16.34%

A large proportion of the inhabitants are between the ages of 31 and 50 years

(66.67%) as shown in Table IV. There is a small proportion of the inhabitants that

are less than 30 years. This observation is consistent with previous findings that

youths are moving out of the area in search of educational and job opportunities.

The low proportion of inhabitants above 50 years of age showed that elderly people

would no longer be active either farming or hunting and therefore move out of the

area or rather to semi-retired.

8

TABLE V

3.1.4 DISTRIBUTION BY NUMBER

OF CHILDREN

COMMUNITIES <

Female

2

Male

2 -

Female

4

Male

4 -

Female

6

Male

>

Female

6

Male

Abeku 1 1 2 4 3 3 4 -- 2

Osoko 1 3 3 2 1 5 1 4

Oloji -- 1 -- 3 -- 3 -- 2

Eseki 1 3 1 3 -- 2 -- --

Sojukodoro -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- --

Tami - Tami -- 4 -- 4 1 3 -- 1

J4 (fowowa) 1 4 1 4 2 3 1 3

Abeku Temidire -- 3 1 12 2 2 -- 2

Etemi 1 -- -- 4 -- 4 -- 4

Tibetu Ibiade -- 1 1 2 -- 2 4 9

Idi Egun -- -- -- 2 -- 4 -- --

TOTAL 45 23 11 40 7 33 6 28

PERCENTAGE OF

RESPONDENTS

3.26% 15.03% 7.29% 26.14% 4.58% 21.57% 3.92% 18.30%

Majority of the respondents have between 2 and 6 children (57.52%), between 6

and 8 children (25.49%), and more that 8 children (19.61%). Very few of the

respondents have less than 2 children. Most of the children in the communities

were between the ages of 1 and 6, thereby reflecting the poor educational facilities

within the communities. (Ola-Adams, 1999). Children above 6 years of age were

sent to live in the nearby town and cities where there are educational facilities for

them.

9

TABLE VI 3.1.5. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD COMMUNITIES ≤

Female

4

Male

4 -

Female

6

Male

6 -

Female

8

Male

>

Female

8

Male

Abeku -- 5 1 6 2 4 -- 2 Osoko 1 -- 3 3 1 7 -- 5 Oloji -- 1 -- 2 -- 1 -- 6 Eseki -- 7 2 1 -- -- -- -- Sojukodoro -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- 1 Tami - Tami -- 7 2 -- 1 1 -- 2 J4 -- 3 2 5 1 3 1 3 Abeku Temidire 1 5 -- 12 -- --- -- 2 Etemi 1 1 -- 4 -- 5 -- 2 Tiberu Ibiade -- -- -- 1 2 -- 2 15 Idi Egun -- -- -- 2 7 2 -- 2

TOTAL 3 29 10 36 14 25 3 40 PERCENTAGE

OF RESPONDENTS

1.96% 18.35% 6.54% 24.18% 4.58% 16.34% 1.96% 26.14%

The number of persons per household varied from one household to another (Table

VI) with 4 or less than 4 per household (20.13%), 4 to 6 persons per household

(30.72%), 6 to 8 persons per household (20.92%) and above 8 persons per

household (28.1%). Some do have up to 12 persons. The large family sizes place

high financial burden on the heads of families and consequently on the families.

The dependants provide labour in the farm and for other enterprises.

10

TABLE VII

3.1.5 DISTRIBUTION BY RESIDENCE STATUS

Most of the inhabitants are immigrants (50.98%) while indigenes constitute

(49.67%). Majority of the inhabitants are non-indigenes although come from the

dominant ethnic groups in the South-West. The finding could also be due to the

fact that most of the indigenes could have gone to join their families at weekend.

They go on Friday and do not return until Monday or Tuesday. A survey carried

out at such period may not be able to capture some of the indigenes. Some of the

immigrants had stayed for over 10 years.

COMMUNITIES

Female

Male

Female

Male Abeku 7 8 1 4

Osoko 3 5 2 10

Oloji - 2 - 7

Eseki 1 1 1 7

Sujukodoro - - - 3

Tami – Tami 1 4 -- 8

J4 (Fowora) 3 8 2 6

Abeku Temidire -- 3 1 16

Etemi -- 8 1 4

Tiberu Ibiade 5 15 - -

Idi Egun -- 1 -- 5

TOTAL 20 56 8 70

PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS

13.07% 36.60% 5.23% 45.75%

IMMIGRANT INDIGENES

11

3.1.6 PRIMARY OCCUPATION AND SOURCES

OF INCOME OF RESPONDENTS Farming is the major primary occupation of the respondents. Some complement

farming with hunting, or fishing as principal or secondary occupation. Other

sources of income include food processing, vending, hairdressing, tailoring,

restaurant and medicine stores. These are in addition to the business in non-timber

forest products.

Poultry of indigenous bird breed are kept on free range. Very few goats and sheep

are kept by the inhabitants. Most of these goats and sheep are kept in tether to

avoid the destruction of crops and processed farm products like cassava and other

harvested food items. The cash crop grown by the male farmers include Cocoa,

Kolanut, Plantain, Orange while female farmers concentrate on food crop

production such as cassava, vegetable, pepper, maize, yam and agro-processing

activities. The advantage of growing tree crops is the economic value of the

produce. Other sources of income include collection and sale of firewood, snails,

wrapping leaves, mushroom and sponge.

3.1.7 LEVEL OF INCOME

Estimated income within the communities varied from one individual to another.

Some respondents did not indicate their income levels but it was certain that they do

engage in income generation activities on a small scale. It was not easy to estimate

their income level because records were not kept due to lack of record keeping

skills and lack of awareness.

However it was found that incomes were higher where cash crops are grown. Some

tree crop farmers claimed they realized between N1.5m – N2.m Naira from sale of

tree crops. Others claimed they realized between N80, 000 and N800, 000

depending on size of farms and crops grown. Tree crop/cash crop farmers reported

12

improvements in their livelihoods and therefore improved status. About 50% of the

junior officers with the Forestry Project have been retrenched by the project due to

lack of funds. Consequently, this has reduced the level of income of the people

especially in Aberu and J4 (Fowowa). Presently, general level of income of the

people is low and therefore low standard of living.

TABLE VIII

3.1.8 PREFERENCES FOR INCOME

GENERATION ACTIVITIES

Listing Priority

Raising seedling of fruit trees

Male Female

Wildlife domestication

Male Female

Snail Rearing

Male Female

Apiculture (honey

Production

Male Female

Cultivation of

Mushroom

Male Female

Aqua ruing Fishing

Male Female

1 45 7 27 2 27 16 5 1 1 -- 21 3 2 4 -- 21 4 12 8 17 2 1 -- 13 10 3 9 1 16 1 14 1 19 11 3 -- 18 2 4 2 -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- 1 -- 8 1 60 8 64 7 83 25 43 14 6 -- 60 16

Differentiation of preferences for income generation activities by gender is

important so that the project will be able to take into consideration the needs and

challenges of both Males and Females and to ensure that the intervention will not

lead to gender inequality. Previous studies (Ola-Adams 1999, Olawoye et al 2011)

had shown that activities most commonly carried out by men include tree crop

farming. (Kola nut, Cocoa, Plantain, Oil Palm), Trading in farm produce, Hunting,

Fishing, Artisans (Carpenters, Bricklayers) and timber logging. Activities most

commonly carried out by women include processing palm oil, cassava, kola nuts

and other agricultural crops, selling provisions, collect firewood and some other

13

non-timber forest products. Both men and women collect snails, medicinal plants

and chewing sticks. (Famuyide 1998)

Preferences for income generation activities varied with individuals and

communities. Some individuals did not indicate their preferences, some others

chose 2 or at most 3 preferences and very few indicate 4 preferences. Male showed

strong preferences for snail rearing, wildlife domestication, fishing and raising of

seedlings of fruit trees. Most of the respondents are conversant with trees and

aware of the potential impact of trees on the environment and that trees can be

viable sources of income. Respondents are positively disposed towards raising and

planting of trees. Females showed preferences for snail, apiculture

Aquaculture/fishing and showed no interest in mushroom cultivation.

3.1.9 SOCIAL GROUPS

These associations or groups are formed for meeting different needs of members of

the community and made up of individuals who share some common needs. The

most common groups are cooperatives, associations and trade unions. Social groups

are very significant for sustainable development and livelihoods.

Some of the social groups in the study area include:

Ogun State Forestry Plantation Project (OGSFPP) Cooperative Owolowo Cooperative Ife – Oluwa Cooperative Youth Association Farmers Association Hunters Association Market Women Association

For sustainable development, the participation of local people is crucial. It may be

necessary to strengthen some of these local groups to use them as sources of

information, training and mobilization.

14

4.0 NEEDS ASSESSMENT

From group discussions, interview of residents and observations, paired needs

priority revealed road, school, health facilities, water, market, electricity, farm

inputs, financial assistance as the major needs of the settlements in the area.

4.1 ROADS

Improving the accessibility to the settlements with better road network is the highest

priority for all the settlements. All socio-economic problems in the settlements

revolve around the issue of poor road network which limits accessibility to the

settlements. Due to the poor road network, most of the residents can only be

reached by motor-cycle or 4-wheel drive vehicle. Consequently, the cost of

transportation is high and as such produce is very expensive.

The African Bank/World Bank Afforestation Project did construct some feeder

roads to link the communities for accessibility. The roads have provided linkage

with other villages and markets. But the Project hardly maintains these roads. The

roads had dilapidated and therefore impassable. Some of the settlements do

maintain portion of the road adjoining to them by contributing money or collecting

toll from timber contractors who ply such roads. During the raining seasons, the

roads are flooded and slippery and residents may be cut off for days or weeks.

4.2 SCHOOLS

With the exception of J4 and Abeku, there are no primary schools in the other

settlements. The community school built by the Abeku community closed down

because of the inability of the residents to sustain the payment of teacher’s salaries.

15

Apart from J4 which has a secondary school (Plantation High School). There is no

secondary school in other settlements. The communities without schools send their

children back to their home towns for schooling. Such situations deny parents of

their children’s assistance in farming operations. With the general lack of primary

and secondary school in the communities, the opportunity to ensure education for

their children is limited.

4.3 HEALTHCARE

Most of the settlements have no healthcare delivery or maternity centre. However,

there is a Government Health Centre at Aberu and also the Projects Medical Centre

at J4 which are to service the communities but accessibility is limited by the

distances of these communities to the medical facilities. These communities only

have access to drug hawkers and herbalists. They live solely on medicinal herbs.

However, in case of emergency, there is a Government General Hospital at Ijebu-

Ife, about 40km rough road. There is a general poor household sanitation facility

which has serious consequence on the health of the residents. There are no waste

disposal facilities and the surroundings are littered with domestic wastes.

4.4 ELECTRICITY

Most of the communities have no access to electricity. However, J4 has access to

electricity. This is due to the community’s proximity to the Project Office and the

Sawmill. This may be the reason why the community has a large influx of

migrants. There was electric supply to Aberu when the project was located there.

Since the project had relocated there was no longer electric supply to the area.

4.5 PORTABLE WATER

In J4 there is access to portable water. All other settlements use rivers and streams

water available within the settlements as their source of water supply. Although

16

boreholes had been sunk in Aberu and Abeku, they are not functional because of the

low capacity of the pumping machines.

4.6 MARKETS

In most of the settlements, there are no markets except at Ajebandele and atJ4.

Markets hold periodically every 5 days. These markets are quite some distances

from most of the settlements. There is need for a central market at J4 which serves

as the central business district of the reserve. There is increase of commercial

utilities in J4 due to heavy traffic. People can buy and sell at the central market

where they can dispose of their produce.

4.7 FARMLANDS AND FARM INPUTS

Some of the residents’ complained that the farm area allocated to them within the

settlements were not enough for them to carry out their farming operations. They

were not allowed to expand their farmland. There is decline in quality of their

farmlands due to long period of farming the same land. Some of them also

complained about restriction on fertilizers, seed and seedlings. Those restrictions

have affected their level of income and making their continued stay in the reserve

uncomfortable.

4.8 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Some of the residents complained about lack of financial assistance to help them in

their farming operations and other enterprises. They reported they have no

collateral to offer any bank.

4.9 COMMUNICATION There is no GSM facility in the settlements and as such they are cut off from the

rest of the world. They have no access to any kind of information that could be

useful to them. Most radio and television are not accessible to them.

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5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

These conclusions and recommendations are based on the studies of social and

economic activities of the residents of the settlement. The livelihoods of the

residents were dependent on the natural resources of the reserve and their income

generating activities would be affected by the restriction on resource use. Due to

restriction placed on farming activities and hunting in the reserve, the farmers could

not expand their farms. Moreover restriction on importing farm inputs, such as

fertilizers and other agro-chemicals into the reserve demoralizes the farmers.

Government should employ extension officer to educate them on improving yield

per hectare through improved seedlings and proper use of fertilizers. Planting of

cash crops such as Cocoa, Kolanut, Plantain, Banana, Cassava will reduce

dependence on forest reserve for income generation.

The major socio-economic challenge of the communities is the issue of

accessibility; provision of good and regular maintained road will enhance influx of

more people and hereby increase the micro-enterprise business.

The establishment of a central market place will enhance the economic activities

within the reserve as it will provide a conducive environment for buying and selling

activities to take place.

Provision of basic infrastructures facilities (service) i.e. electricity, schools, water,

medical and maternity centre will improve the socio-economic well-being of the

inhabitants.

Taungya or agro-forestry interventions, if well implemented, will enhance the

environmental quality of Omo Biosphere Reserve and also enhance the economic

status of the resource poor farmers (FAO, 1998).

Taungya or agro-forestry should be encouraged where there is scarcity of farmland

for the farmers to sustain their livelihoods. It is recommended that the residents

should be encouraged to practice the complex compound farm system and

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multistrata agro forestry system with food and tree crops and forest trees while the

scattered tree system and alley cropping are also recommended for appropriate

locations especially where vegetables are produced upland. For settlement near wet

sites or river banks, raising of fish is recommended.

With the regulation on hunting and restriction on farming activities, the residents

should be trained on alternative income generating activities that could provide

them with income without adverse effect on the resource-base. These activities

would include raising seedlings of fruit trees, wildlife domestication, snail rearing,

mushroom farming, apiculture and aquaculture/Fishing.

It may be necessary to establish a rural radio station as channel of information,

training and mobilization of the residents on skill-acquisition, income generating

activities and conservation of biodiversity.

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REFERENCES

1. Bada, S.O. (1998) Community Participation in the management of

Omo Forest Reserve, (Draft) FORMECU, pp.49.

2. Famuyide, O.O. (1998) Draft Report of the Forest Product Utilization

and Marketing studies on Omo Forest Reserve

FORMECU, pp 21.

3. FAO (1998) Small farmers development through adoption

of appropriate Farming System in Nigeria

F.A.O. Rome pp.160.

4. Karimu, S.A. (1998) The role of surrounding communities on the

Management of the Omo Forest Reserve (Draft)

FORMECU, Abuja pp.120.

5. Ladipo, D.O. (1998) Agro forestry model for Omo Forest Reserve

(OFR) Ogun State, Nigeria. FORMECU pp 44 6. Ojo, G.O.A. (1998) Survey of Non – timber resources of the

Forests of Omo Forest Reserve (Draft)

FORMECU, Abuja pp. 180.

7. Ola-Adams, B.A. (1999) Biodiversity Inventory of Omo Biosphere

Reserve, Nigeria. Country Report on Biosphere

Reserve for biodiversity Conservation and

sustainable Development in Africa (BRAAF)

Project. UNESCO/Nigeria MAB Committee)

BMZ Germany pp.357.

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8. Ola-Adams, B.A. (2013) Overview of Omo Biosphere

Reserve: Background, challenges and

Opportunities. Paper presented at the Inception

Meeting and Inauguration of KOICA Project.

Omo Biosphere Reserve, Ogun State

17th December 2013 pp 8

9. Olawoye, J.E. Oyesola , O.B. and Oladeji, J.O. (2011) Socio- economic

Assessments of Villages within the Omo –

Oluwa Forest Reserved Area, South West

Nigeria. Draft Final Report: General Baseline

Study Report submitted to Nigerian

Conservation Foundations (NCF) Pro-Natural

International Nigeria (PNI)/Ogun, Ondo and

Osun State. Government pp.49.

10. Sinkaiye, Tope and Owolabi, Timi (1998) Report of socio-economic

Survey of Omo Forest Reserve Management

Project. Dept. of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture

and Natural Resources, Ogun State pp.46

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Questionnaire