Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and domestication: analysis of the prospects of domestication of non-timber forest products in developing countries from socio-economic perspectives: example from the mid-hills of Nepal

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and domestication: analysis of the prospects of domestication of non-timber forest products in developing countries from socio-economic perspectives: example from the mid-hills of Nepal

[Summary]:
Non-timber forest product (NTFP) is one of the sources of livelihood in developing countries like Nepal. In the present context of agriculture crop production decline because of climate change, an alternative to agro-crops, NTFP species domestication could be a viable option of livelihood for the resource poor farmers of south Asian region. Domestication is important in two ways: One is that helps fulfil the demand of food and other is that it helps conserve natural resource base in the forest. Therefore, domestication is critical for both livelihood and environmental sustainability.

The book Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and Domestication provides an insight into the potentiality of cultivation of NTFPs in cultivated land in place of agro-crops. Based on a structured questionnaire survey and some secondary documents this book has sought to explore the perception of smallholder farmers whether or not the NTFPs could be an alternative to existing agro-crops. The book deals with constraints and opportunities, market opportunities and risks with regards to promotion (domestication) of NTFPs in the cultivated land. The book also throws light on whether or not the existing policies are favourable to NTFPs domestication at farm level. Findings suggest that farmers are very much willing to cultivate NTFPs in their farmland in place of agro-crops. They perceive NTFPs more profitable and environmentally desirable than agro-crops since NTFPs requires less input (fertiliser, soil works, labour etc.) than agro-crops. But farmers are reluctant to adopt domestication extensively because of market risks (price fluctuation, insecure market, trader domination). Lack of direct access of farmers to the big trading companies is another constraint posed to expensive cultivation of NTFPs in the farm land.

Copyright 2010 by the author and Lambert Academic Publishing.