Assessment of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) based Livelihood Systems among the Forest Dwellers of Chhattisgarh

In this paper an attention is given to identify and assess the NTFPs based livelihood systems of the forest dwellers in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. For this study total135 NTFPs collecting forest dwellers were randomly selected as the respondents from the three randomly selected blocks of the Bilaspur District. The data were collected from each respondent personally by using pretested interview schedule. This study elucidates that, 100.00 per cent of the respondents were engaged in NTFPs collection as the sample population was NTFPs gatherers. However, 91.85 per cent were adopted NTFPs collection + agriculture, kind of occupation. Maximum NTFPs were available to the respondents in May month and all sample households were involved in mahua collection. With regard to prevailing NTFPs based livelihood systems it was found that system 2A i.e. “NTFPs (Mahua, Tendupatta, Jamun, Sitaphal, Putu and Chhatani) + crop (kharif rice)” was most popular among 60 per cent of respondents. But system 2D i.e. “NTFPs (Mahua, Tendupatta, Jamun, Sitaphal, Putu and Chhatani) + crop (kharif rice) + dairy” gives the highest per family average annual income. SWOT analysis of such prevailing NTFPs based livelihood systems describes the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which are associated to such systems.