Analyzing Households’ Dependency on Non-timber Forest Products, Poverty Alleviation Potential, and Socioeconomic Drivers: Evidence from Metema and Quara Districts in the Dry Forests of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Examining the household’s dependence on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and analyzing their determinants has significance for policy decisions. Therefore, this study examines the contribution of NTFPs to rural livelihoods, its potential in poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic drivers of households’ collection of NTFPs. The study is based on primary data collected by using a structured questionnaire survey of 450 randomly selected households in Metema and Quara districts of Amhara region, Ethiopia along with key informant interviews, focus group discussion with residents, and from government offices. We adopted an income accounting model for apportioning components of total income for finding income from NTFPs and applied the Tobit regression model for our analysis and found that households are considerably dependent on NTFPs. Income from NTFPs accounts for 23.1% of the total household income. However, the level and pattern of reliance on these forest products vary across different socioeconomic groups. Income from NTFPs also helps 20% of the households to remain above the poverty line. Moreover, the study shows that age, household size, landholding, cooperative membership, per capita income, and access to extension service influence households’ dependence on NTFPs. Thus, we suggest that any policy intervention in dry forest areas should be planned without destructing the forest ecosystem.