Economic Contribution of Wildlife to Bushmeat Market in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria

T.K Adebowale,O.O Oduntan,A.E Adegbenjo,A.S Akinbode

doi:10.4314/jasem.v25i4.14

Abstract

This paper assessed the economic contribution of wildlife to bushmeat market in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview of targeted respondents. Bush meat sellers in Irewole local government area, Ikire were sampled. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and likert scale analysis. The result showed that majority of the bushmeat sellers were females (55.9%) with a mean age of 41 years. Most of the bushmeat sellers strongly agreed (4.91±0.09) that they generate more income from bushmeat trade, 4.71±0.17 equally noted that customers prefer to purchase bushmeat than convectional meat type while 1.56±0.19 disagreed that seasonal change affects customer’s preferences for bushmeat in the markets. Also, 5.00±0.0, 4.82±0.13, 4.74±0.17 respectively believes that bushmeat are more delicious, better source of protein, more of medicinal value when compared with conventional meat type. Furthermore, an average of 3.70±0.2 had cultural sentiments for the consumption of bush meat. An average net profit per respondent yielded ₦3,565.53, while BCR and profitability index are 1.95 and 0.95 respectively. Conclusively, bushmeat trading is a profitable and very lucrative enterprise. 

Highlights

Wildlife and forests are extremely important to poor rural households, in tropical forest regions, for a number of products and services, including food, food security, income, livelihoods and fuel-wood (FAO, 2009; Fa et al, 2015; MilnerGulland et al, 2013), and many have proposed that rural populations depend or rely on wildlife products, or that the forest is necessary to them
In West and Central Africa, where bushmeat is mostly sold in open markets (Cowlishaw et al, 2005) the value of bushmeat and income earned from bushmeat trade can more be quantified (Kümpel et al, 2010)
Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents: The result from Table 1 reveals that majority (55.9 %) of the respondents involved in the sales of bush meat were female

Summary

Introduction

Wildlife and forests are extremely important to poor rural households, in tropical forest regions, for a number of products and services, including food, food security, income, livelihoods and fuel-wood (FAO, 2009; Fa et al, 2015; MilnerGulland et al, 2013), and many have proposed that rural populations depend or rely on wildlife products, or that the forest is necessary to them. Wild ungulates and other animals are generally acknowledged as valuable sources of meat and other commodities in many tropical societies, and are widely consumed in many West African countries, as they contribute between an estimated 20% and 100% of the animal protein consumed (Jayeoba et al, 2013). Today the value of animal protein from wild animals and fresh water fish consumed annually is well over N200 million (Olaoye, 2010) yet FAO, (2006) categorized Nigeria is a protein- deficient country. Bushmeat utilization constitutes a significant source of revenue (Milner-Gulland et al, 2003), where the trade is driven by increased bushmeat consumption in urban areas. This paper assessed contributions of wildlife to bushmeat economy in an urban area of a developing country and the perception of respondents on bushmeat sales and consumption

Methods

Results

Conclusion