Assessment of the Socio-Economic Potentials of Bombax costatum (Red Flower Silk-CottonTree) in Giwa, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria with a focus on the assessment of socio-economic importance of Bombax costatum locally known as Gurjiya. A total of 120 respondents were selected from 8 villages in all the administrative wards of Giwa Local Government using a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution tables and percentages. The findings revealed that most respondents (84.2%) could identify the tree and 67.5% recognized the economic importance of Bombax costatum. Parts of Bombax costatum used by respondents included the bark (54.2%), flowers (48.3%), and fruit (27.5%) primarily for food, fodder, and herbal medicine. Furthermore, 92.5% of respondents expressed willingness to plant Bombax costatum seedlings on their farms. Parts of the constraints confronting the sustainability of Bombax costatum in the study area include deforestation for fuelwood and charcoal production (2.5), Insecurity (1.75), lack of extension support services (1.5). It was concluded that Bombax costatum has enormous socio-economic potentials, but its sustainability is being threatened in the study area.  The study therefore recommended the provision of extension support services to farmers, provision of seedlings of Bombax costatum to farmers for re-afforestation and increased surveillance by forest guards to reduce the level of over-exploitation of the species and ensure its sustainability.