Description:
This study was designed to determine the contribution of palm craft materials to household
income in Western lowland zone of Mwanga district. Data was collected by social
economic survey and field inventory. The social economic survey involved interviewing
sampled respondents in households, sellers and customers of palm craft materials and
products in the market place and discussion with focus groups. Information gathered was
type of species, quantity harvested, type of products produced, uses and marketing of palm
craft materials and produced products. Field inventory was also conducted to get the
estimates of the available palm craft materials in Kileo forest reserve and in general land.
Data from social economic survey were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) computer programme. Field inventory data were analysed using
Microsoft Excel computer programme. The study has revealed that palm craft materials
have significant contribution (P<0.01) to household income compared to other economic
sources in the four villages of Kileo ward. Palm craft materials contributed 56 % of total
household income while crops, business and livestock contribute 21 %, 15 % and 8
percent respectively. Market of palm craft products was not good. It was also observed
that the amount of palm craft material harvested was lower than what both Kileo forest
reserve and in general land could supply. It was recommended that; product development
and marketing should be conducted in order to utilize the full potential of the forest
reserve and general land, villagers in Kileo ward should be helped to organize themselves
into economic groups dealing with plant craft materials, Forest Division should introduce
quarter harvesting system of wild date palm in Kileo forest reserve and that Kileo forest
reserve and the general land with doum palm should be managed in a sustainable manner
through Participatory Forest Management.