CONTRIBUTION DES PRODUITS FORESTIERS NON LIGNEUX A LA SECURITE ALIMENTAIRE DESMENAGES DANS LA COMMUNE RURALE DE TAMOU, AU SUD-OUEST DU NIGER (AFRIQUE DE LOUEST).

This study, which was conducted in the rural commune of Tamou in southwestern Niger, aims to assess the contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in household food security. To do this, the process consisted in conducting ethnobotanical surveys among 138 households according to Lawrence's approach. The results highlighted 129 NWFP source species, including 66 plant species, 58 animal species and 5 wild mushroom species, used for food, medicinal and commercial purposes. The contribution of the sale of NTFPs in the annual household income of the zone is 93290 FCFA per year and per household. Thus, the exploitation of NTFPs in the commune contributes 16% of the average annual income per household. The income generated by the exploitation of these NTFPs is an invaluable contribution for the populations. In fact, they are used not only to satisfy food needs, health needs, social needs (baptism, marriage, gifts), but also to make investments (fattening). Of these uses, 7 were listed by the respondents. It is the purchase of food, animals (fattening or breeding), participation in ceremonies, the purchase of clothes and shoes, health, the purchase of furniture and utensils and the schooling of children. The valorization of NTFPs would be an effective strategy for reducing poverty and food insecurity, thus contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of local populations.