Determinants of Utilization of Selected Forest Fruits in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the factors that affect the utilization of selected fruits in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Data were collected using well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis and descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages. The results indicated that 68% of the respondents were male, 39.9% had secondary education and majority of the respondents were farmers. The results also showed that most of the respondents (98.2%) bought their fruit from the market. The result indicated that 100% of the respondents had adequate knowledge on the existence of Dacryodes edulis (eben), and 95% on Cola argentea (ndiya), while few of the respondents (27.9%) had little knowledge on the existence of Maesobotrya dusenii. The result also revealed that numerous benefits such as food, income medicine are derived from fruits and that lack of money (91%), non-availability of the fruits, and deforestation of the forest (64.9%) were the major constraints faced in the utilization of these forest fruits in the study area. Result of the regression analysis revealed that age was positively related to the value of forest fruits utilized. The level of education was positive and significant (P<0.10). Income was positive and significant (P<0.10) implying that as income increase, the quantity of forest fruits consumed is likely to increase correspondingly and vice versa. Also forest fruits are versatile in their uses as food for man and animals, source of medicine and income generation. They could be obtained from the forest, homegarden and markets. Socioeconomic factors such as age, educational qualification, and income influence the utilization of the forest fruits extension activities should be carried out to enlighten the public on the uses and importance of the different forest fruits. Also policy makers should enact laws which would strictly discourage deforestation. This will ensure adequate and all-year-round availability of the different forest fruits in the state.