Factor productivity and marketed surplus of non‐timber forest products in Similipal forest of Odisha

• Published date: 01 February 2021
• Author: Pratap K. Jena
• Date: 01 February 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2116

ACADEMIC PAPER

Factor productivity and marketed surplus of non-timber forest

products in Similipal forest of Odisha

Pratap K. Jena

Department of Economics, North Orissa

University, Baripada, India

Correspondence

Pratap K. Jena, Department of Economics,

North Orissa University, Baripada,

Mayurbhanj, Odisha 757003, India.

Email: jenapratapkumar@gmail.com

Funding information

Indian Council of Social Science Research

(ICSSR)

Abstract

The article examined the factor productivity and the marketed surplus of non-timber

forest products (NTFPs) in the Smilipal forest of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India

by using the econometric models. It is found that more than 90% of households

earned their livelihood from NTFPs in the study area, where the women's participa-

tion is more than the male in the production/collection of NTFPs. Most of the house-

holds are illiterate, working-age people, and have more than 30 years of experience

in the production of NTFPs. The production of NTFPs is highly seasonal and house-

holds produce or collect NTFPs during the winter season. Households having more

family members produce or collect higher quantities of NTFPs than others. The mar-

ked surplus of NTFPs depends on the production or collection of NTFPs as well as

the retention amount and wastes. The higher factor productivity indicates the NTFPs

are the best source of livelihood in this area.

1|INTRODUCTION

Non-timber forest product (NTFP) is an important source of livelihood

strategy for rural people other than agriculture and wage labor. The

NTFPs provide substantial inputs to the livelihood of forest depen-

dants who have limited agricultural income (Chandrasekharan, 1995).

In many countries, the harvesting of NTFPs is quite ecologically

accepted than timber products (Mayer, 1988). Developing countries

harvest more NTFPs than developed countries as they heavily depend

on forest products for food security and employment during the off-

season (Bennett & Robinson, 2000). It is recorded that around one bil-

lion poor people depend on forest products worldwide (Scherr,

White, & Kaimowitz, 2004). The government of India earned around

50% of forest revenue from NTFPs, 70% of export earning as forest-

based, and absorb 55% of the total employment in the forestry sector

(Behera, 2009). The NTFPs have greater demand in the international

market, there are more than 150 NTFPs traded and generated more

than US $11 billion export value in 1994. Among countries, China

secured the top position followed by India, United States, German,

and Egypt in the export of NTFPs worldwide (Yildirim & Kose 2018).

The total global forest products export value has increased by 36% in

1980, 70% in 2000, and 8% in 2016. The export value becomes US$

247bn in 2017 indicates a larger global demand for forest products

(FAO Forest Statistics, 2017). Harvesting of NTFPs in the tropical for-

est area could give higher revenues than logging (Peters, Gentry, &

Mendelsohn, 1989). Rural people in some countries like; Latin Amer-

ica, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asian countries supplement their

income from forest products (Babulo et al., 2009).

In recent years, social scientists and policymakers are keen to

study the linkage between forests and forest dependence to improve

the livelihood of forest dependants (Mamo & Degnet, 2012). There

are more than 80% of rural poor people depending primarily on

NTFPs for nutritional needs in developing countries (Rasul, Karki, &

Ram, 2008). The NTFPs are the important source of income of the

tribal people hence there is a growing concern for its over-harvesting

(Dash, Behera, & Rahut 2016). The researchers and policymakers have

undermined the importance of NTFPs and potential in the livelihood

of forest dependence (Murthy, Bhat, Ravindranath, & Sukumar, 2005).

There is not a single study that has been made on the marketed sur-

plus and factor productivity of NTFPs in the Similipal forest of Odisha,

India. The decline of factor productivity and marketed surplus

threaten the economic condition as well as the food security of both

producers and consumers (Kraybill, Bashaasha, & Betz, 2012). There-

fore, this study attempted to empirically examine the marketed sur-

plus and the total factor productivity (TFP) of NTFPs in the Similipal

forest of the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. The rest of the article is

Received: 13 December 2019 Revised: 13 February 2020 Accepted: 28 February 2020

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2116

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https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2116