Abstract

 Raphia wine is an important forest product with cultural significance besides its use as medicine and food in southern Nigeria. The study assessed the potentials of raphia palm wine in South East, Nigeria in three Local Government Areas of Abia state. The focal point was informed by the vast nutritional and socio-economic values of the products, their potentials for poverty alleviation and the dearth of information on the economics of marketing the products in the area. The study specifically described the different ways in which raphia palm wine can be utilized and also the factors impacting its productivity and consumption. The study population comprised all the palm wine consumers, marketers and farmers in South East, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 100 respondents for the study. Primary data used for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution. Palm wine has the best potentials for use in refreshment, followed by ceremonies, traditional medicine, raw materials, libation, lactation, and least weaning. Also, diseases, insects and pests, soil fertility and economic related challenges were factors that most affects palm wine productivity while superstition and lack of awareness least affect it. Innovations such as the use of hybrid plants, accurate plant spacing, new and efficient ways of tapping by associated Research Institutes in the country will help boost palm wine production.