Lakshmi M. Paloti
Government First Grade Women’s College
Bailhongal 591102, Karnataka
Uma S. Hiremath
Dept. of Extension and Communication Management
College of Rural Home Science
University of Agricultural Sciences
Dharwad 580008, Karnataka
Abstract
Forest offers a wide range of goods contributing to peoples basic needs. Dependence of the people on various minor forest products in the study area was found to be high. Several minor forest products are being used by rural people and aboriginals for their day to day needs and many of them are their income generative sources. Hence, the present study was conducted in Dharwad taluk with sample size 150 rural women engaged in NTFP activities and collected data on dependency of rural women on NTFPs, extent of income earned by NTFPs, constraints faced and training and education for value addition of NTFPs by rural women, with help of pre structured interview schedule. The results of the study revealed that majority of the rural women (42.00%) were dependent on leaves of Mutttala (Butea monosperma) followed by fuel wood (20.67%), Pongemia seeds (19.33%) and edible gum (17.33%). Maximum income obtained from baskets per season was (Rs.29, 250-) followed by fuel wood(Rs.7,350/-), grass brooms (Rs.18,900/-) and leaf meal plates (Rs.2,880/-). Major constraints faced by the rural women were lack of proper marketing system (96.00%) and depletion of flora (91.33%). Important suggestions about the training areas in the value addition of NTFP were to conduct training on a income generating activities by using NTFPs and marketing channels (93.33%), followed by organizing SHGs (55.33%) and use of machines for different size leaf meal plate and cup making (42.00%). The findings of the present study indicated that considerable percentage of the rural women performed the NTFP activities like collection, processing, storage, preservation and marketing which consumed a greater portion. This implies the need for training and education about value addition of NTFPs by the rural women.
Key words: NTFPs, Value addition, Dependency, Rural women.
