Investigation of Charcoal Production in Gwer West and Gwer East Local Government Areas of Benue State, Nigeria

This study assessed charcoal production in Gwer west and Gwer east Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, Nigeria. It was aimed at to identifying charcoal producing villages, preferred wood species used, market channels, awareness of the implication of environmental and socio-economic benefits of charcoal production. Snowball sampling technique was used to identify charcoal producing villages. Mult-stage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for data collection. Five villages were randomly selected and visited in each LGAs, in each village, five charcoal producers were chosen. 150 copies of semi-structured questionnaire were used in the two LGAs. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA. Results show that there were more male than female in charcoal production business. In Gwer east, preferred wood species for charcoal production were in the order of Prosopis africana (33%) >Khaya senegalensis (27%) >Terminelia avicenniodes (20%) > vitellaria paradoxa (13%) > Burkia africana (7%). In Gwer west, the order of wood preference was Prosopis africana (29%) >Anogeissus leiocarpus (24%) >Burkia africana (19%) >Afzelia africana (14%) >Vitellaria paradoxa (9%) >Erythrophleum suaveolens (5%). In Gwer west LGA, Aondoana village had highest mean of 24.30±13.83 charcoal production while in Gwer East LGA, Taraku had highest mean (11.10±7.84). Number of charcoal producers in the two LGAs were not significant (p<0.05). In Gwer west, charcoal producers in Aondoana village had highest (32%) earnings of between N 201,000 - N 250,000 monthly and highest employees (32.42%). Whereas, in Gwer west LGA, Taraku charcoal producers highest earning was between N 161,000 - N 200,000 monthly and also had highest employee of 31%. There is no significant difference (p<0.05) in the presence of market in the LGAs. The highest percentage earnings in Gwer west and In Gwer east was used for marring (39%, 37%) beside others. Perceived environmental problems by respondents were climate change (30%)>soil erosion (25%) loss of watershed (20%)>loss of habitat (15%) >extinction of plant species (10%) >land dispute (5%). It was concluded that as charcoal production has both positive and negative impact on the producers, inhabitants and the environment, efforts should be made mitigate the negative effects.