scholarly journals Vulnerability of Fishery-based Livelihoods to Climate Variability and Change in a Tropical Island: Insights From Small Scale Fishers in Seychelles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Etongo ◽  
Lyn Arrisol
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Demographic Profile ◽  
Indicator Approach ◽  
Guest House

Abstract An indicator approach based on six major components and their corresponding sub-components was applied in order to assess community vulnerability of small-scale fishers on Mahe and Praslin Island with the framework of the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). These major major components include socio-demographic profile, livelihood strategies, food, health, social networks, and natural disasters and climate variability from which questionnaires were designed based on expert judgements. Fisher associations on Mahe and Praslin provided guidance for the selection of fishing households and a total of 80 surveys were completed with 40 from each island. Three shared dialogue workshops (SDWs) were conducted to gather additional qualitative data. A composite index was used to aggregate the data and the LVI-IPCC methodology was applied in the calculation of the contributing factors of the sub-components to the major components and the overall vulnerability was deduced for exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity. Results showed that the percentage of fishers’ households that depend mainly on fisheries as a source of income was 95% and 97% for Mahe and Praslin respectively with alternative income streams along the fishing value chain such as transportation, fish mongers and processor. Fishers on Mahe Island had a dependency ratio index that was slightly higher than those on Praslin. Overall, fishing households on Mahe showed greater vulnerability on socio-demographic profile index compared to their counterparts on Praslin. However, greater livelihood diversification was recorded for householders on Mahe than Praslin – an indication that the level of development on the former as the largest island and capital of Seychelles offer greater opportunities for diversification. The SDWs revealed that fishers earned income from tourism-related activities such as guest house, car rental, boat ride, and sales of coconuts. While householders on Mahe struggled to find fish for 3 months during the southeast monsoon season, those on Praslin had just 2 months given that they are granted access to fish in the lagoon during this season. More importantly, the voluntary closure of some fishing zones between the months of November to April on Praslin is a sustainability strategy with an increase in size and number observed for rabbit and parrotfish. Further studies are needed in two key areas as follows: the role of subsidies and sustainable fisheries management, and a value-chain approach to vulnerability of small-scale fishers within the fishery sector in Seychelles.

scholarly journals Vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to climate variability and change in a tropical island: insights from small-scale fishers in Seychelles

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Etongo ◽  
Lyn Arrisol
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Climate Variability And Change ◽  
A Value ◽  
Sustainability Strategy ◽  
Guest House ◽  
Climate Shocks

AbstractWhile climate shocks and stressors are not unique to developing countries, their impacts are expected to be most acute here due to limitations in the assets and infrastructure required for adaptation. This study assesses the vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to the impacts of climate variability and change across two major islands in Seychelles based on 80 household surveys and three shared dialogue workshops (SDWs) with small-scale fishers. Results showed that the percentage of fishers’ households that depend mainly on fisheries as a source of income was 95% and 97% for Mahe and Praslin respectively with alternative income streams along the fishing value chain such as transportation, fish mongers and processor. Fishers on Mahe Island had a dependency ratio index that was slightly higher than those on Praslin. Overall, fishing households on Mahe showed greater vulnerability on socio-demographic profile index compared to their counterparts on Praslin. However, greater livelihood diversification was recorded for householders on Mahe than Praslin as fishers earned income from tourism-related activities such as guest house, car rental, boat ride, and sales of coconuts as mentioned during the SDWs. Fishers on Mahe struggled to find fish for 3 months during the southeast monsoon season compared to 2 months for those on Praslin given that access is granted to fish in the lagoon during this season. More importantly, the voluntary closure of some fishing zones between the months of November to April on Praslin is a sustainability strategy that witnessed an increase in size and number for both rabbit and parrotfish. Further studies are needed in two key areas as follows: the role of subsidies and sustainable fisheries management, and a value-chain approach to vulnerability of small-scale fishers within the fishery sector in Seychelles.

scholarly journals Communities’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Variability in Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misganaw Teshager Abeje ◽  
Atsushi Tsunekawa ◽  
Nigussie Haregeweyn ◽  
Zerihun Nigussie ◽  
Enyew Adgo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Kendall Test ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Relative Difference ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood

Ethiopia has experienced more than 10 major drought episodes since the 1970s. Evidence has shown that climate change exacerbates the situation and presents a daunting challenge to predominantly rain-fed agricultural livelihoods. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent and sources of smallholder famers’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change/variability in the Upper Blue Nile basin. We conducted a household survey (n = 391) across three distinct agroecological communities and a formative composite index of livelihood vulnerability (LVI) was constructed. The Mann–Kendall test and the standard precipitation index (SPI) were employed to analyze trends of rainfall, temperature, and drought prevalence for the period from 1982 to 2016. The communities across watersheds showed a relative difference in the overall livelihood vulnerability index. Aba Gerima (midland) was found to be more vulnerable, with a score of 0.37, while Guder (highland) had a relatively lower LVI with a 0.34 index score. Given similar exposure to climate variability and drought episodes, communities’ livelihood vulnerability was mainly attributed to their low adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity indicators. Adaptive capacity was largely constrained by a lack of participation in community-based organizations and a lack of income diversification. This study will have practical implications for policy development in heterogeneous agroecological regions for sustainable livelihood development and climate change adaptation programs.

scholarly journals Assessing The Impacts of Climate Variability on Rural Households in Agricultural Land Through The Application of Livelihood Vulnerability Index

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Ginjo Gitima ◽  
Abiyot Legesse ◽  
Dereje Biru
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Household Heads

Climate variability adversely affects rural households in Ethiopia as they depend on rain-fed agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to climate fluctuations and severe events such as drought and pests. In view of this, we have assessed the impacts of climate variability on rural household’s livelihoods in agricultural land in Tarchazuria district of Dawuro Zone. A total of 270 samples of household heads were selected using a multistage sampling technique with sample size allocation procedures of the simple random sampling method. Simple linear regression, the standard precipitation index, the coefficient of variance, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze climatic data such as rainfall and temperature. Two livelihood vulnerability analysis approaches, such as composite index and Livelihood Vulnerability Index-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (LVI-IPCC) approaches, were used to analyze indices for socioeconomic and biophysical indicators. The study revealed that the variability patterns of rainfall and increasing temperatures had been detrimental effects on rural households' livelihoods. The result showed households of overall standardized, average scores of Wara Gesa (0.60) had high livelihood vulnerability with dominant major components of natural, physical, social capital, and livelihood strategies to climate-induced natural hazards than Mela Gelda (0.56). The LVI-IPCC analysis results also revealed that the rural households in Mela Gelda were more exposed to climate variability than Wara Gesa and slightly sensitive to climate variability, considering the health and knowledge and skills, natural capitals, and financial capitals of the households. Therefore, interventions including road infrastructure construction, integrated with watershed management, early warning information system, providing training, livelihood diversification, and SWC measures' practices should be a better response to climate variability-induced natural hazards. Keywords: Households;  Livelihood Vulnerability Index; climate variability; Tarchazuria District   Copyright (c) 2021 Geosfera Indonesia and Department of Geography Education, University of Jember This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share A like 4.0 International License

scholarly journals Assessing Impact of Climate Variability in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh Using Livelihood Vulnerability Index

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Sabrina Mehzabin ◽  
M. Shahjahan Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Kendall Test ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Precipitation Anomaly ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Precipitation Concentration Index ◽  
Coastal Bangladesh ◽  
Present Decade ◽  
The Impact

This study analyzed the variability of rainfall and temperature in southwest coastal Bangladesh and assessed the impact of such variability on local livelihood in the last two decades. The variability analysis involved the use of coefficient of variation (CV), standardized precipitation anomaly (Z), and precipitation concentration index (PCI). Linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the trends, and a Mann–Kendall test was performed to detect the significance of the trends. The impact of climate variability was assessed by using a livelihood vulnerability index (LVI), which consisted of six livelihood components with several sub-components under each component. Primary data to construct the LVIs were collected through a semi-structed questionnaire survey of 132 households in a coastal polder. The survey data were triangulated and supplemented with qualitative data from focused group discussions and key informant interviews. The results showed significant rises in temperature in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Though there were no discernable trends in annual and seasonal rainfalls, the anomalies increased in the dry season. The annual PCI and Z were found to capture the climate variability better than the currently used mean monthly standard deviation. The comparison of the LVIs of the present decade with the past indicated that the livelihood vulnerability, particularly in the water component, had increased in the coastal polder due to the increases in natural hazards and climate variability. The index-based vulnerability analysis conducted in this study can be adapted for livelihood vulnerability assessment in deltaic coastal areas of Asia and Africa.

Measuring the Employment Vulnerability Among Female Workers in Uttar Pradesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-322
Author(s):  
Nomita P. Kumar ◽  
Achala Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Women Workers ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Informal Workers ◽  
Garment Workers ◽  
Principal Component Loading ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Component Loading

This article attempts to measure employment vulnerability among women workers in Uttar Pradesh by constructing a multidimensional vulnerability index (MVI). The index is based on 23 dichotomous (binary) variables corresponding to various dimensions of vulnerability related to employment. A composite index of vulnerability is developed for each occupational category, sector of employment and gender. Here, MVI is the average of five indices which are computed for the respective dimensions of employment vulnerability. The findings suggest high levels of vulnerability among informal workers with the MVI values ranging from 0.087 (low) to 0.783 (high).The overall MVI (measured by principal component loading [PCA]) was 0.768 for the construction and domestic workers, followed by tailors (0.629) and garment workers (0.635). Appropriate policies are needed to help lift women from the cumulative neglect that they experience in unorganised labour market.

scholarly journals Is a 10-sow unit economically sustainable? A profitability assessment of productivity amongst small-holder pig farmers, Mpumalanga, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Munzhelele ◽  
James W. Oguttu ◽  
Folorunso O. Fasina
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Reduction ◽  
Good Body Condition ◽  
Commercial Feeds ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Profitability Assessment ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The majority of small-holder pig farmers in Mpumalanga had between 1- and 10-sow herds. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the current government agricultural intervention (supply of 10 sows and a boar) in terms of technical and economic feasibilities and ascertain whether the small-scale pig value chain system alleviates poverty. Data were obtained from 220 randomly selected small-holder pig farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that 58% farrowed ≤ 10 piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method and many fed swill and leftovers alone (41.6%). Pair-wise association revealed that the feeding of commercial feeds had a relationship with pigs in relatively good to very good body condition. Pigs in poor body condition were positively correlated with the feeding of swill alone. The economic models for the 10-sow unit proved that pig farming is unprofitable if the current management and feeding systems that operate in the commercial industry are utilised. However, only through a combination of cooperative systems, benefits of economies of scale, reduction of preweaning mortalities and structured government inputs can pig production be profitable at this scale of production.Keywords: piglets; market; profit; economics; feeds

scholarly journals De-commoditizing Ethiopian coffees after the establishment of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange: an empirical investigation of smallholder coffee producers in Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-518
Author(s):  
Tinsae Demise Handino ◽  
Marijke D’Haese ◽  
Freaw Demise ◽  
Misginaw Tamirat
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Commodity Exchange ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Southwestern Ethiopia ◽  
Score Model ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood Approach ◽  
The Impact

The repercussions of reforming an agricultural market are mainly observed at the most vulnerable segment of the value chain, namely, the producers. In the current commodity market created with trade through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), coffee is less traceable to its producers. Only cooperatives that sell certified coffee through the unions they belong to, are allowed to bypass the more commodified ECX market. This study aims to investigate if small-scale coffee producers in southwestern Ethiopia that sell coffee through the certified cooperative are better off. It is assumed that the coffee sales through, and membership of, a cooperative, allows farmers to improve their coffee production as well as to improve other aspects of their livelihood. A sustainable livelihood approach was used as the inspiration for the welfare indicators that needed to be considered, data collected amongst members and non-members of certified cooperatives, and a propensity score model to investigate the impact of cooperative membership on the livelihood indicators. Results suggest that members of certified cooperatives indeed receive, on average, better prices. Yet, no evidence was found that indicates that the higher price is translated into better household income. Furthermore, coffee plantation productivity of those members who were interviewed was lower than that of the non-members. This finding could explain the failure to find an overall effect. Since the majority of the producers’ income emanate from coffee, a sustainable way of enhancing the productivity of the coffee could revitalize the welfare of the coffee producers.

scholarly journals Applying the Best-Fit Framework to Assess and Strengthen National Extension and Advisory Services

2017 ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Davis ◽  
David J. Spielman
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Performance Incentives ◽  
Advisory Services ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Best Fit

Agricultural extension and advisory services are critical to supporting technological and institutional changes that can improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries. However, many extension services are under-resourced, out of date, and need of structural and content changes. However, efforts to systematically strengthen local extension systems often fall into the trap of promoting blueprints that are insufficiently adapted to local context. To that end, researchers developed the best-fit framework in the 2000s to provide impetus for pursuit of more locally-tailored extension solutions. Today, almost a decade later, researchers test the framework under real-world conditions in a cross-country application. This paper examines the application of this framework across six dimensions and seven countries to formulate a set of best-fit recommendations that are also broadly appreciable. The findings show that it is possible to apply the framework to the analysis of EAS across countries while also maintaining a very localized perspective on recommendations. Across the seven countries, certain obvious commonalities exist: The growth in pluralism in extension providers, the persistence of weak incentives for extension agents, and the lack of enabling policies. At the same time, innovative solutions to many of the challenges held in common—ICT-enabled extension, performance incentives, and value-chain oriented extension—are heterogeneous. The framework allows users to pursue change processes in EAS in response to their own local realities.

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