The Status, Potentials and limitations of Marketing Some Non Wood Forest Products in the Miombo Woodlands of Tabora, Tanzania

Although Market opportunities are emerging throughout the world as trends towards economic liberalization and decentralization open new markets local communities do not to realise tangible and intangible benefits from conservation to serve as incentives towards active participation in forest management. A study on marketing of NWFPs was conducted in Tabora, Tanzania. Data was collected from selected villages through household questionnaires, focus group discussions, informal discussion, participants' observation and field excursion. Data was analysed for descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and trends. The study identified that more than 90% of the respondents collected and utilized NWFPs for food and income generation. Women were the main actors in collecting, processing and preservation of NWFPs used for food, while men dealt with those meant for income generation. Following this marketing of standard products is likely to increase tangible benefits to the local level stakeholders and for that case more research is needed to investigate the appropriate means of economically processing and preserving the NWFPs in order to increase the level of income acquired.