Uses and Relative Abundance of Non-Timber Forest Plants in Farmlands of Selected Tiv Communities in Benue State, Nigeria

Majority of the rural farmers in Nigeria supplement their livelihoods with goods and services within and around their farmlands. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are harvested for their subsistence and commercial use and forms an inherent part of rural economy which helps them to meet both food and non-foods needs especially during periods of crop failure and famine. The present study was undertaken to identify and examine the uses and relative abundance of non-timber tree species in farmlands of selected Tiv communities of Benue State, Nigeria. Sample plots of 100 m x 100 m in selected farmlands were surveyed in each of the three randomly selected kindreds within each of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) purposively selected for the study. In each farmland, five 10 m x 100 m grids were marked at 20 m intervals and every NTFP plant species encountered in each of the grids was identified by its local name, counted and recorded. Group interviews with farmers in the selected kindreds gave community-level knowledge on uses of the tree species within their farmlands. In Guma LGA, 21 tree species pertaining to 13 families were found predominated with Rubiaceae (38.5%) and followed by Mimosoideae (23.1%). Acacia nilotica and Borassus aethiopum were the most preferred species (14.1%) on the farms. Ten plant taxa of 9 families were identified and documented as plants allowed to grow with crop plants within farmlands in Gboko LGA. Five standing species were identified within the farms and Parkia biglobosa was the most abundant (33.3%) among the species due to its multiple benefits. In Kwande LGA, 9 species from different families were identified. Four (4) standing plant species were documented, with Parkia biglobosa being the most preferred (42.9%), followed by Vitex doniana (28.6%) among the standing species. Given the importance of the tree species on farmlands and their uses to farmers’ well-being, ranging from use as food, medicines, crafts, local construction, shelter, soil improvement and stability, it is recommended that their conservation be prioritized using appropriate policies and programs to ensure their continued availability on the farmlands of the people.