scholarly journals Unpicking the Inter-relationships Between Off-Farm Livelihood Diversification, Household Characteristics, and Farm Management in the Rural Andes

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Caulfield ◽  
James Hammond ◽  
Steven J. Fonte ◽  
Miguel Angel Florido ◽  
Walter Fuentes ◽  
...  

Rural households across the world are increasingly turning to off-farm sources of income to complement or replace farm income. A better understanding of these livelihood adaptations, their consequences, and the processes behind them will facilitate more effective rural development policies and projects. The objective of this research was to examine how off-farm income influences rural livelihoods, elucidate factors that determine different livelihood strategies, as well as understand how these livelihood strategies are associated with different approaches to farm management. Using data from 588 Rural Household Multi-Indicator Surveys (RHoMIS) in three rural Andean regions in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, we identified a typology of farming household livelihood strategies, and assessed the differences among these household types with regard to household and farm level characteristics, and farm management. We found that among the household types that incorporated off-farm income into their livelihood strategies, there were significant differences in approaches to farm management. Specifically, we observed an increased use of industrialized farming techniques among one household type, a deintensification, or a stepping-out of farming activities in another household type, and a tendency toward livestock specialization in the other household type. Moreover, our findings revealed that household level characteristics (age and education level of head(s) of household, and household composition) played an important role in mediating which type of livelihood strategy the households employed. For example, “stepping-out” households generally had younger and more educated household heads. Location-specific factors such as access to markets, irrigation, and off-farm employment opportunities were also likely to be highly influential in terms of which pathways farming households adopted as their livelihood strategy. We conclude that rural development programmes and projects must be driven by the rural communities themselves taking into account this heterogeneity in household characteristics and livelihoods and engaging in the already advanced conversations around different approaches to farming and the conservation of common natural resources.

2013 ◽  
pp. 49-73
Author(s):  
Suh Chong-Hyuk ◽  
Kim Hyong-Mo

From the early seventies the Korean Government has adopted a rural industrialization policy as an important measure for promoting rural development. It has been perceived that through this measure the over-concentration of economic activity would be controlled and dispersed. Development of rural industrialization has passed through three different phases: i) the period of promoting rural cottage-type industries (1960-80); ii) the period of rural industrial park establishment; and iii) a stagnation period after the early 1990s. Throughout the overall period government policy changed from an individual project-oriented approach to a diversified and comprehensive policy program. The policy programs, such as the development of rural industrial parks, off-farm income source development and vocational training programs for farm youths, have helped in promoting rural industrialization. On the other hand, policy programs promoting rural out-migration and unbalanced regional development policy have impacted negatively on rural industrialization. Presently one of the serious policy issues facing rural industries is how to secure a young labor force and how to promote rural entrepreneurship. In addition, rural development efforts by local government and authorities are necessary in order to increase investment from urban-based entrepreneur firms. Keywords:Rural industrialization, farm household, off-farm income, rural development, rural industrial park, rural


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110071
Author(s):  
Muhammad Luqman ◽  
Saleem Ashraf ◽  
Babar Shahbaz ◽  
Tahir Munir Butt ◽  
Raheel Saqib

We explored the contribution and effectiveness of state and non-state institutions in rural development efforts in highlands (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK] province) of Pakistan. This study employed mixed-methods research design and data were collected from 300 household heads, randomly selected from six villages from two purposively selected districts Mansehra and Nowshehra. Findings showed people in KPK were deprived of due to conflicts, conspiracies and terrorism, poor governance, small landholdings and subsistence farming followed by sluggish marketing system, insufficient education and training for people, and inadequate employment opportunities. Regarding contribution, non-state institutions had more contribution as compared to state institutions. T-test analysis showed that the non-state institutions had an effective provision of agricultural extension and forestry advisory services, education, health services in remote areas, skill development, and provision of microcredit schemes. The results of F-test statistics showed highly significant difference among the perceived effectiveness of rural development activities of different types of non-state actors (localite, cosmopolite, and religious/faith-based) working in the research area. This study recommends state-owned rural development departments revisit their working mechanism and develop synergistic working relationship with the non-state institutions in discharging rural development efforts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1059
Author(s):  
Martinson Ankrah Twumasi ◽  
Yuansheng Jiang ◽  
Bismark Addai ◽  
Zhao Ding ◽  
Abbas Ali Chandio ◽  
...  

The emergence of agricultural cooperatives is extensively viewed as a necessary institutional arrangement that can help farmers in developing countries overcome the constraints that impede them from improving sustainable agricultural production and acquiring new marketing opportunities. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of cooperative membership and its impact on fish farm household income, using data collected from two regions in Ghana. An endogenous switching regression (ESR) model is utilized to address the potential sample selection bias issue. The results show that household heads’ decisions to join cooperatives are affected by their access to credit, off-farm work, education level, and peer influence. Cooperative membership can increase both household and farm income by 28.54% and 34.75%, respectively. Moreover, we show that different groups of households’ cooperative impacts on farm and household income are heterogeneous. Our findings highlight the importance of cooperative patronization and provide implications that can improve households’ welfare.


Author(s):  
Filippo Arfini ◽  
Fabio Landini

- This work offers an interpretation of the role that multifunctionality plays in the policies that sustain rural development. Assuming as a reference the livelihood approach, we analyse multifunctionality within a framework which differs from the usual Wto negotiations. We reappraise its significance as a variable that reinforces the livelihood strategies of the rural households. In terms of policy design we analyse the costs of the secondary services and the variables that allow for their reduction. A quantitative evaluation is then carried out on the basis of an LP model taking a multifunctional farm in Africa. The results obtained are that: multifunctionality is very costly; most of the private costs of multifunctionality are due to constraints on specialisation in production; both coupled and de-coupled payment sustain multifunctionality but in different ways; technological progress is a key variable for economic sustainability.EconLit Classification: C020, Q010, Q120, Q180Keywords: Multifunctionality, Rural Development, Livelihood Approach, Linear Programming


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-102
Author(s):  
Protas Fwamba Khaemba ◽  
Philomena Muiruri ◽  
Thomas Kibutu

This paper reports on one of the findings of a study undertaken to investigate the coping strategies used by small-scale sugarcane growers in Bungoma County, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was used. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of the divisions, villages, key respondents, and sugarcane farmers to be interviewed. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from 100 small-scale sugarcane growers’ household heads from Bumula Sub-County. Data were collected during the month of December 2016.  Qualitative data collected were analysed thematically. Quantitative data was analysed using regression in SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel. Results from small-scale sugarcane farmers in Bumula Sub-County revealed a declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities in the area. Coping strategies identified included off-farm income-generating activities, sale of sugarcane by-products and non-contracted cane farming. Significance test qualification was based on a percentage of adjusted R2 and within 0.3 to 0.7 ranges for Beta weight value.  The correlation coefficient (R-value) for the model was 0.362, indicating a moderately positive relationship between variables. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.284 (28.4%). Adopted coping strategies accounted for 28.4% variability in the declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming. This result suggests the existence of other factors that explain the remaining 71.6% of the variation in the declining farmers’ participation. Farmers should enhance both on-farm and off-farm income-generating activities, sugarcane by-products value addition, and non-contracted cane farming in order to reverse the outcome and result in an enhanced farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities by 36.2%


2020 ◽  
pp. 96-104
Author(s):  
Olatomide Waheed Olowa ◽  
Omowumi Ayodele Olowa

Cocoa farmer faces increasing challenging environment through exposure to risks factors which have impacted negatively on their production or output. Since farmers are primary producers and often times lack capacity to control risks factor, it is important to manage this factors. This study examines the cocoa farmers’ risk preferences and crop insurance perception and isolates the drivers of decision to uptake crop insurance among cocoa farmers in Ekiti state. The sample for the study consist of 200 cocoa farmers who were household heads selected through multi-stage sampling across four Local government areas of Ekiti State who are predominantly cocoa producers. Data collected on socio-demographic characteristics, perception of crop insurance and risk preferences, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic model. Results showed that majority of the cocoa farmers were without crop insurance, with higher enrolment in Membership of cooperative society, owned their land, larger household size and lower educational level but higher level of farm experience when compared to cocoa farmers who are holding crop insurance. Farmers risk preferences showed no significant difference between farmers with or without insurance. Education (β=0.59), Household size (β=0.0029) and Debt use (β=0.02), Membership of cooperative (β=-4.53), Farming Experience (β=-2.51), Owned Land (β=-2.19) and Non-Farm Income (β=-0.65) were among the significant determinants of insurance uptake. Risk mitigating measures such as provision of necessary incentives such as improved varieties of cocoa seedling, as well as provision of fertiliser and approved pesticides, financial assistance, and simple processing technologies that produce standard cocoa bean plus a re-jigged Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for an improved discharge of its function are recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-118
Author(s):  
Kumar Bhatta

Multi functionality of agriculture in the developed countries is employed as a means of rural revitalization and economic circulation. Although farm diversification in the developing countries is much more crucial, in most of the rural areas of the developing countries, it is not performed, and it is delayed. In this regard, the main objective of this study is to explore the possibilities of the multi functionality of agriculture for the sustainable rural development for the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the developing countries. The empirical study was conducted in two of the rural districts of Nepal called Nuwakot and Rasuwa. The author intentionally chose these districts because it is one separate area north of the capital city Kathmandu and bordering to China. Further, even though the location is nearby the capital city, and the rural villages have excessive potentials for tourism activities, the farmers are still focusing on subsistence farming without getting benefits from tourism. Based on the macro data of Nepal government and field visit, the author conducted a case study. This study explored that most of the household heads are working in the agricultural sector, which can be one of the opportunities to launch multi functionality of agriculture. However, due to their weak educational background, they are expecting external supports in terms of knowledge, technology, and more importantly, supportive policy. The federal and central government should give subsidy to the farmers so that they canstart multi functionality in their farms, which lead to sustainable rural development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 5905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benyong Wei ◽  
Guiwu Su ◽  
Yingkui Li ◽  
Yuling Ma

Natural hazards not only cause direct losses of household income and assets but also affect the choice and outcome of livelihood strategies. Based on the questionnaire survey from 2007 on Mw 6.1 Ning’er earthquake-hit areas in Southwest China, we analyzed the relationship between livelihood assets (or capitals) and livelihood strategies of local rural households and identified the main factors influencing the choice of livelihood strategy. The results indicate that statistically significant differences exist in livelihood assets among livelihood strategies. The choice of livelihood strategies is affected significantly by the status of livelihood assets. High financial capitals enable households to engage in higher-returns or capital-intensive livelihood activities. Improving vocational education and skills training for rural residents, especially for the youth, is also important in developing new livelihood strategies beyond their traditional lifestyle. Higher social capitals provide households the opportunity to select a higher return and income livelihood strategy. In addition, as part of efforts to enhance physical capitals, housing construction planning and technical guidance are of critical importance to improve the anti-seismic performance of rural buildings and decrease their livelihood risk in earthquake-prone areas. It is important for farmers to improve and diversify their livelihood strategies according to regional geographical environment and the comparative advantages of their own livelihood assets.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-339
Author(s):  
EP Mutsvangwa-Sammie

The impact narratives of agricultural innovations and rural livelihoods have attracted the attention of both policy makers and development practitioners, especially on whether introduced innovations have the envisaged positive change on communities, and how that change can be measured. The paper explores the narratives around impacts of agricultural innovations and rural livelihoods in south west Zimbabwe. Data was collected through household questionnaires, review of project reports and key informant interviews, conducted between April 2012 and June 2018. Results showed there were differences in how success was defined by the various actors. Despite the vast efforts in promoting agricultural innovations, less than 12% of households depended on agriculture only, while the majority of households engaged in diverse livelihood strategies. This implied that recognizing the diversity of rural livelihoods is an important step toward understanding the beneficiaries of agricultural innovations and to ensure their success. The different perceptions in defining success reflected self-interests and/or pursuit of self-actualization of the various actors and how they sought to make the most out of the prevailing situation. I conclude that true ascription of success requires understanding the complexity and richness of livelihood goals of farmers, taking into account power, beliefs and values within a society.


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