Year: 2025 | Month: December | Volume 70 | Issue 4
Economic Contribution of NTFPs to Tribal Livelihoods and
Income Inequality in Gurez Valley of Kashmir Himalaya
M.A. Islam
Ummar Atta
A.A. Wani
A.A. Gatoo
Murtaza Shah
K.A. Sofi and Muneesa Banday
DOI:10.46852/0424-2513.4.2025.13
Abstract:
The study investigated the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) extracted, consumed and traded; their economic value; livelihood contribution; income inequality mitigation; and determinants of NTFP income in the Shina tribe in Gurez Himalaya. The survey used a random sampling procedure in multiple stages to select subdivisions (03), villages (18), and households (337). The methods used for the household survey included non-participant observations, structured interviews, focus group discussions, and rapid market assessments. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and OLS multiple regression. Total economic value of NTFPs extracted was ` 30733.4/household/year, including subsistence (61.63%) and cash (38.37%). NTFP income was dominated by herbal medicines, which accounted for 44.68%, while incense was the lowest (0.33%). Household average annual income was ` 92811.24, of which NTFP is the 3rd major contributor (20.41%) of the tribal economy. Gini coefficients, with (0.2873) and without (0.3539) NTFP income, indicated that NTFP income exerted a stronger (6.66%) equalizing effect on income istribution. The regression analysis revealed that the variables, namely, main occupation, herd size, annual income, proximity to forests, family forestry, and forest visits, had a significant impact on NTFP income. R2 (0.920) implies that all the factors jointly explained 92.00% of variation on the NTFP income.
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