I017215860

IOSR Journal of Computer Engineering (IOSR-JCE)
e-ISSN: 2278-0661,p-ISSN: 2278-8727, Volume 17, Issue 2, Ver. 1 (Mar – Apr. 2015), PP 58-60
www.iosrjournals.org
DOI: 10.9790/0661-17215860 www.iosrjournals.org 58 | Page
The Use of Non Wood Forest Product as Income Generation in
Semi Arid Zone Case Study Umkaddada Locality, North Darfur
State, Sudan
Dr: Abdelrhman Ismail Adam
1Elfasher University, Faculty of environmental science & Natural resources, Department of Forestry & Range
Abstract: The study were carried out at Arais area north Umkaddada town, the objective was to study the non
wood forest products for their role in income generation, type of fruits, Grasses and other parts of trees
available in the area and their contribution to income generation. The study showed that Grewia tenax, Baid
grass, Acacia tortilis, Balanite aegyptiaca, Sclerocarya birrea and Ziziphus spini christi were the most
subsidiary source and presented that the mother trees of the some species were highly affected.
The study area lies eastern part of the State. It is geographically located within 12th and 15th degree of latitude
N, 25th and 28th degree of longitude E. Covering an area of 40,000 squire km. It is bordered on the east by
North Kordofan State, on the south by eastern Darfur State on north and west by Milliet and Ekoma localities
respectively.
Key words: income generation, subsidiary source, Grewia tenax, Ziziphus spini christi, Adansonia degitata
I. Introduction
There is a wide range of non-wood forest products and services differing in their source, nature,
characteristics and utilization. Their conservation, management, utilization, trade and socio-economic roles
present a complex array of problems and potentials. From time immemorial these products and services have
contributed greatly to human welfare and progress.
Once designated as minor forest products (MFP), this very important group of forest benefits has
recently been receiving increasing recognition and attention. Depending on the scope and coverage they are
grouped and defined differently. The term non-wood forest products (NWFP) generally includes all tangible
products other than timber, fuel wood and charcoal derived from forests or any land under similar use as well as
woody plants. The term non-timber forest products (NTFP) include all tangible products other than timber and
include wood energy (fuel wood and charcoal). The other term in use, non-timber forest benefits, includes, in
addition to all tangible products other than timber, environmental and socio-cultural services Abdelmajed,
(2001). Rural people at Umkaddada Locality are influenced by degradation of the agricultural lands, fluctuation
of rainfall and loss of their domestic animals therefore most of them support their life needs through collecting
grass, hunting wild animals and gathering tree fruits, they practices these activities each in different seasons,
most of them marketing their products rather than satisfy them self to get money for other needs.
The various types of non wood forest products in the area are not studied to know its trend on term of density,
frequency, productivity and market needs.
Situation of Non-Wood Forest Products
Globally, many products which figured prominently in the past have undergone a substantial decline in
production and trade over the last 20 years. There are several factors constraining the sustainable development
of NWFP, especially of those of purely forest origin FAO,(1991).
Due to overemphasis on timber production in recent times, non-wood products were neglected by
foresters and policy makers leading to lack of attention on their scientific management and conservation.
Extensive gathering and inappropriate management regulations have often caused resource depletion. Gathering
or extraction of natural resources can only support low human population densities, and increasing population
pressure have negatively affected the sustainability of NWFP resources FAO, (1992).
Organized and unplanned land use changes also have caused destruction of the proper habitat for
NWFP. Lack of integration of wood and non-wood products in forest management, wasteful harvesting, lack of
stability and reliability of supply, and lack of efficient and proper market chains are other constraints on the
supply side IBGR, (1984). There is lack of processing and storage technology and facilities; quality standards of
products are often poor. Most traditional NWFP activities are labor intensive and cheap, so they tend to be
inversely related to general economic development. They tend to become early casualties in the process of
economic development, and succumb to competition, unless measures are taken to improve them to the new
needs and situations FAO, (1991).

The Use of Non wood forest product as income generation in Semi arid zone Case study…
II. Methodology
In October 2011 three sites within Umkaddada area were selected Abo Odam, Arais and Eldandanga.
The first area was 45 km east Umkaddada town; the second was located at 25 km North West to Umkaddada
and the last one 20 km north east. Equal area of 100 fedans was selected (among pocket site in each selected
area). Tree density and frequency was studied and total of 200 house hold heads were investigated for socio-
economic impact. The pocket site in each area was described as rich of trees and grass.
2-1 Tree density and frequency:
Tree density index is defined as the number of individual species per unit area, while frequency is term used in
sense of presence or absence of individual species. For obtaining tree density each site was divided into 42 equal
units, a quadrate of 10x10m was placed randomly at each unit and the individual species inside the quadrate
were counted and recorded, then tree density was calculated by dividing the total individual species over the
total of quadrate for each site separately at the same time species which present in each quadrate was recorded.
2-2 Socio-economic study:
Socio-economic study was conducted in the study area; a set of questions was prepared covering all aspects
related to the income generation and non wood forest products which contribute on their livelihood.
200 house hold heads were selected randomly and interviewed, (Abo Odam 75 head, Arais 75 head and
Eldandanga 50 head) the target group were selected according to population size in each area.
III. Results And Discussion
Table (1): Subsidiary source of income generation for local people at Umkaddada Locality
source of income Abo Odam Arais Eldandanga Frequency %
Collecting grasses and tree fruits 92 43 27 162 81
Work as laborers 3 6 13 22 11
Gold Mining 14 0 2 16 8
Total 200 100
Table (1) showed that 81% of the investigated heads in the three sites said that they depend mainly on
collection of grass and non wood product, and all of them are mentioned that during the rainy season collect
grass and sale it in local markets, while at late of rainy season they depend on fruits of Acacia tortilis, Which is
preferred by domestic animals as good fodder.
The target group at Abo odam site stated that during the rainy season children and old women stay
beside the stream to capture Adansonia fruits by using branch of shrubs when it is floating on running water of
Abo odam wadi.
At early dry season December and January investigators stated that they depend on production of Gum
Arabic as cash crop and sale the fruits of Grewia tenax, Balanite aegyptiaca, Ziziphus spini christi and
Adansonia degitata, during the hot dry season which stored from the period of darat (harvesting period) Humied
and Haraz fruits are collect and marketed later before the rainy season the time of its ripping and falling.
11% of the investigators said that they used to work as labors at cities such as Umkaddada, Elobied and
Khartoum to generate income during the dry season while in rainy season depend on farming, and only 8% of
the target group stated that they depend on Gold mining especially people of Abo odam because near to mining
areas like Umbadir and Sikango mountain.
The target group in Arais and Eldandanga stated that the production of Grewia fruits, Gum Arabic and
Nabag have decreased year by year because pockets are found among the Range land which occupied by
animals while harvesting.
All the investigators of the study areas ranked the price of non wood product in their area as fallow table (2)
Table (2): the product price estimated in local measurement units/SDG at markets of the study areas
Species Abo Odam Arais Eldandanga
Gum Arabic/ sag 250 245 245
Gidiem fruits /kora 25 40 55
Sayal fruits/ kora 01 02 03
Nabag fruits/ kora 03 05 08
Humied fruits/ koam 02 05 05
Higlieg fruits/ kora 03 06 09
Tebaldi fruits/ kora 08 12 15

The Use of Non wood forest product as income generation in Semi arid zone Case study…
Table (3): tree density/ ha at three sites of study area
Species Local name Abo Odam Arais Eldandanga
Acacia senegal Hashab 91 53 24
Grewia tenax Gidiem 82 64 41
Acacia tortilis Sayal 31 18 09
Ziziphus spini christi Nabag 28 12 16
Sclerocarya birrea Humied 23 11 46
Balanite aegyptiaca Higlieg 47 13 07
Adansonia degitata Tebaldi 23 0.0 09
For the measurement of both tree density and frequency the study was focused only on target species
which mentioned by interviewer as source of income generation and other species are neglected. Therefore table
(3) showed that Acacia senegal and Grewia tenax are the most dominant species, this because Acacia Senegal
(Hashab) was owned by individuals who occupied the areas in the past in term of land tenure, they are not allow
to anyone to cut or to remove part of it, and Grewia tenax is shrub of many stems of less value and will not
subject to cutting because most of people know its valuable support particularly in term of blood recovery.
With regard to Acacia tortilis (Sayal), Sclerocarya birrea (Humied) and Balanite aegyptiaca (Higlieg)
these species are used as fodder and some of them are editable although it has other uses. Adansonia degitata
(Tebaldi) was very rarely appear as mother trees in all three sites, without regeneration observed, because
physiologically described as high water demander, Andrews (1965).
Table (4) tree frequency (%)/ ha at three sites of the study area
Species Local name Abo Odam Arais Eldandanga
Acacia senegal Hashab 49 38 26
Grewia tenax Gidiem 46 32 17
Ziziphus spini christi Nabag 19 16 12
Acacia tortilis Sayal 14 08 17
Sclerocarya birrea Humied 11 06 04
Balanite aegyptiaca Higlieg 26 7 03
Adansonia degitata Tebaldi 7 0.0 0.2
Table (4) showed that Acacia Senegal, Grewia tenax, Ziziphus spini christi and Acacia tortilis are
present with suitable frequency while the other species with very low frequency this because there are
continuous needs for their wood product as building pole, fire wood and equipment handles.
IV. Conclusion
Measurement of tree density and frequency showed that Acacia senegal and Grewia tenax has good
distribution all over the pocket areas, and consider as dominant species.The investigators all over the study sites
mention that the non woody parts of Acacia Senegal, Grewia tenax, Acacia tortilis, Ziziphus spini christi and
Adansonia degitata are the most used as subsidiary income generation from time to time around the year.
Adansonia degitata is very rare in the area but the fruits come with running water (Abo Odam stream)
from Kordofan areas.The sustainability of these activities it not long due to the bad management with regard to
natural resources in the area like continues cutting of trees, intensive grazing and debarking of some trees like
Adansonia degitata on the other hand the fluctuation of rainfall and degradation of the lands which causing
desertification.
V. Recommendations
- There is a need to use an appropriate program for replanting and protection of the forest trees as general
with special attention to the pocket areas.
- Sustainable extension program is needed among inhabitants to guide them to adopt the protection of all tree
species to keep the area from the desert.
- Cooperative management for natural resources including the different sectors such as (Forestry, Range,
Agriculture, Animal production, Soil conservation and extension) is very important.
References
[1]. Abdelmaji, T. D (2001). Biodiversity and its influences on non wood forest products.
[2]. Andrews, F. W, (1965). Flowering plants of Anglo Aegyptium Suda, Vol. 1-3.T. Buncle and co., Arbriath, Scotland.
[3]. IBGR, (1984). Forage and browse plants for arid and semi arid African International Board for plant Genetics Resource. Royal
Botanical Garden, Kew London P11- 218.
[4]. FAO, (1992). Forest, Trees and Food, FAO, Rome. Rural small scale forest – based processing enterprises in Zambia, report of
1985 pilot study, FO, MISC/15. FAO, Rome.
[5]. FAO, (1991). Non-Wood Forest Products: The Way Ahead. Forestry Paper 97. FAO, Rome.

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