Food production and forestry in the high forest zone Nigeria

Production of cash food crops in the high forest zone appears unattractive economically, compared with production of permanent tree crops, Including timber crops. Food production combined with establishment of tree crops, enhances the profitability of both enterprises, and utilizes the residual fertility from the natural forest which might otherwise be lost. The Forestry Services are the largest estate owners in the country. In the Southern States they clear annually about 20,000 acres of forest, a substantial proportion of which is employed in the production of food - -crops at the same time as the new timber crop is established. - This uses the residual fertility from the natural forest, which would otherwise be lost, and the farming operations assist the growth of the young trees. In the Southeast State the farming operations are carried out directly by the Forest Department, though in other states it is more usual to obtain the co-operation of peasant farmers. These are prepared to carry out a large proportion of the task of removing the original forest cover without payment, in exchange for permission to farm the lard; they have cleared for 2 or 3 years. Forestry is already responsible for the production of about Hi millions of food crops annually, which could rise to well over 1O,million during this decade (at present values). The area of land cleared annually for timber crops should raise to 150,000 acres during the present decade, if projected wood requirements are to be met.