Comparative Analysis of Personal and Socio-economic Characteristics of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) Collectors and Non-collectors of Jammu Region of J&K

Aims: Non-wood forest produce refers to all forest produce other than wood, such as leaves, fruits, and nuts, while wood forest produce refers to timber, herbs, and firewood. The people living in the vicinity of the forest collect the Non Timber Forest Products (NFTPs) for their livelihood sustainability as an off- farm income for them. Personal and socio- economic characters (gender, age, education level, social participation, farm implement possession, land holding, type of family, marital status) of NTFP collectors differ from the non collectors.

Study Design: Explorative study design was employed.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted in Jammu region between July 2017 to November 2019.

Methodology: Multistage sampling plan was followed for drawl of ultimate sampling units. The East circle from Jammu region was purposively selected as it covers all the three agro- climatic zones namely Subtropical, Intermediate and Temperate, thus it represents the whole Jammu division. The available NTFP collectors were contacted with the snow ball sampling procedure, a total sample size of 150 collectors and 150 non- collectors were selected through snow ball sampling procedure.

Results: Major findings indicate that there was significant difference between the NTFP collectors and non- collectors in case of socio-personal variables of age, farming experience, type of house, number of MGNERGA card holders, type of ration card, formal education, literacy rate and sex ratio. The NTFP collectors and non- collectors were matching on size of average operational land holding. The households having members in government service were more in non- collectors’ families whereas households having members as labor were more in households of NTFP collectors.

Conclusion: It is concluded that majority of the NTFP collectors were belongs to young age, had kaccha house, had priority household ration card whereas majority of non- collectors were fall under middle age category, had pacca house, had non- priority household ration card.