LIVELIHOOD SUSTAINABILITY AND LAND DEGRADATION: SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF CHARCOAL TRADE IN YEWA DIVISION, OGUN STATE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62050/fjst2025.v10n1.662الكلمات المفتاحية:
Charcoal merchandise، Livelihood support، Land degradation، Yewa Divisionالملخص
Charcoal merchandise is a thriving business in Yewa Division of Ogun State. Despite the livelihood support from charcoal trading, significant negative impacts on land and environment have been widely reported. There is the need to balance economic gains and land degradation. A survey of purposively sampled five hundred charcoal stakeholders was conducted through the use of well-structured questionnaire and interviews. Data were collected on socio-economic characteristics, perceptions on livelihoods and land degradation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic and ordinal regression analyses. The study found that 56% of the respondents were male and 55% were married. Most of the respondents (63%) had secondary level education, involved as producers (60%), and earning income of between ₦50,000 and ₦120,000 monthly (48%) from charcoal activities. The research revealed that marital status (χ22,498 = 7.43; p = 0.02) and occupation (χ21,499 = 0.001; p = 0.01) significantly influenced the perception of respondents with respect to charcoal merchandise for livelihood support. Percieved impact of charcoal production on land degradation was significantly influenced by marital status (χ22,498 =7.43; p=0.02), education level (χ22,498 =4.68; p=0.01) and income level (χ22,498 =11.53; p=0.01). Charcoal trading appears to be a lucrative business that supports livelihoods. Married couple, well educated people and high income earners appeared to be involved in this business, and they seemed fully aware of the consequenes of charcoal activities on land degradation. However, the study recommends that charcoal merchandise should be strictly regulated to forestall adverse consequences to the land and environment.
التنزيلات
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