Contribution of non-wood forest products in income and livelihood of rural communities in the dry lands of Central Darfur State, Sudan

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have a considerable contribution to the livelihood systems and local economies of rural and urban societies. This study attempted to provide information on the contribution of NWFPs to the income of the rural livelihood and economic development in Central Darfur State, Sudan. A household survey was conducted using stratified sampling technique. The questionnaire covered different issues related to the household socio-economic characters and NWFPs types. Descriptive statistics and econometric model were used for data analysis. Multiple linear regressions were used to assess the impact of the socioeconomic factors on annual net return from NWFPs earned by collector. The study showed that NWFPs contribution to the total household’s annual income was about (54%). The collection was dominated by female (63%). Security, level of education and family size showed positive and significant effect on annual net return from NWFPs in Central Darfur State.