Assessment of Consumption and Income Generation between Palm Wine and Other Industrial Beverages in Cross River State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to provide information on the level of consumption and income from palm wine and other industrial beverages in Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 82 sampled palm wine retailers in three geopolitical zones in the State. Semi-structured questionnaire, personal observations and focus group discussions were used to obtain data from retailers. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study showed that consumption level of palm wine per day in the zones were in the order, Northern (33.3 L) > Central (24.8 L) > Southern (19.4 L). However, the consumption levels of palm wine from the Central and Southern Zones were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from each other. The Consumption level of other alcoholic beverages; Harp, Goldberg, Origin, Dry gin, Heineken, Stout, Gulder, and Star per day in the zones were in the order Northern (23.9 L)> Central (20.4 L) >Southern (17.6 L). The income level from palm wine was N1845.54, N1538.40 and N837.60 from the Northern, Central and Southern Zones, respectively. Total Performance Index based on taste, availability, and cost shows that mean daily consumption level of palm wine was higher than all the other alcoholic beverages in the study area. The study recommends that Government and other development stakeholders on economic and environment should play greater role in promoting potential entrepreneurship in palm wine as a viable alternative source of livelihood through creation of awareness and better incentives for sustainable management of this natural forest resource.