Evaluation of Socio-Economic Characteristics of Fuel Wood Marketers in Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria.

The study was conducted to evaluate the socio-economic characteristics of firewood marketers in the study area. Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire. Three big firewood markets in the area were purposefully selected for the study. A total of 30 respondents, representing 50% of the marketers, were administered the questionnaire. The collected data were analysed by descriptive statistics using tables, frequencies, and percentages. The results revealed that the majority (57%) of the respondents were in the age bracket of 31–40, and 90% were males. (70%) were married, and (50%) of the respondents had a family size of 1 to 5 people. The majority (73%) of the respondents had no formal education; (76%) of them were farming as their primary occupation; they had only ten years of experience in the firewood business; and they were operating individually without forming an association. The respondents major constraints were low patronage (44.0%, followed by low cost (27.1%), lack of transport (16.6%) and lack of accessibility with (13.3%).Socio-economic factors that influenced firewood marketing in the area are age, gender, marital status, and family size. It is recommended that the government engage the marketers in the plans for sustainable utilisation and management of forest resources in the area

Keywords:

fuel, wood Markers, Krumi Local Government Energy,

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