Role of Urban Agriculture for Livelihood Improvement, Waste Management and Greening in Case of Hawassa City

Background: Urban agriculture is one of the strategies to enhance the livelihood of the urban community, ensure food security and nutrition. Despite, the increasing development of the practice in Hawaassa city, its environmental and societal perspectives had been neglected. Moreover, the increase in urbanization due to several social-economic reasons has become a challenge for urban agriculture practices. Methodology: This study was aimed at investigating the roles of urban agriculture on livelihood improvement, waste management, and urban greening. A purposive random sampling technique was employed to select sample households. Besides questionnaire surveys and key informant interviews were used to elicit necessary information while literature analysis supplemented the data. Result: It was found that urban agriculture in the study area is maintaining the cultural experience of the local society, generating income, and introducing saving habits. It has also improved the esthetic value of the city via utilization of the organic waste. Hence, urban agriculture in the city is compatible with urban job creation, price adjustment, and provision of a green urban environment. Conclusion: Urban agricultural practices should keep the phase of increasing urbanization in the study area.

Market development of local peatland commodities to support successful peatland restoration

Peatland degradation and community livelihood are often driven by market forces. Successful peatland restoration including community livelihood improvement programs is therefore highly correlated with market development of various local peatland commodities that are introduced to replace fire-using farming activities. However, since the development of local peatland commodities is often under subsistence marketplaces, investigation of their market is not attractive and has received little attention. This paper investigates the market structure of the local peatland commodities developed by the local community under peatland livelihood programs using Rapid Market Appraisal (RMA) technique and market structure analysis to quickly draw challenges and opportunities of market development of peatland commodities. We also analyze a business model applied by the local community, particularly their strategy to adapt to market dynamics and to secure market competition. The information is essential to serve as a basis for formulating appropriate interventions needed to develop a more established market of local peatland commodities, which as a consequence will prevent peat forest conversion. The investigation finds that at least three types of peatland commodity market structures are evolving in the research site. Each of them has different challenges and needs different interventions to make the livelihood programs more sustainable. Meanwhile, the local community is more oriented towards sales than the marketing of peatland products. They have not prepared a specific strategy yet to adapt to and win the dynamic market competition. It needs significant efforts to change its business culture if relevant stakeholders intend to develop the local peatland commodity market as a part of peatland restoration and community livelihood improvement programs.

Livelihood Improvement through Entrepreneur Characteristics and Innovative Strategies: An Empirical Study of Entrepreneurs in Western Kenya

Purpose This study aimed at improving an understanding of the mediating role of innovation in the relationship between entrepreneur characteristics and livelihood improvement. The study was empirical, based on primary data from the micro and small enterprises in the western region of Kenya. Design/methodology study adopted a quantitative approach, self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data from 382 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) owners in Western Kenya, comprising Uasin Gishu and Bungoma Counties. The study examined the direct and indirect effects on livelihood improvement. A simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents for data collection. For statistical analysis, bivariate regression and multiple regression techniques were utilized with SPSS version 26 being the tool. The sopel test assisted in analyzing the effect of innovation as a mediator between entrepreneur characteristics and livelihood improvement. FindingsThe results reveal a statistically significant relationship between the entrepreneur characteristics and livelihood improvement under the mediating role of innovation. Practical implications these findings provide useful insights for MSEs, seeking to be competitive and responsive to the changing entrepreneurial landscape by successfully introducing innovations. The study encourages an innovative culture among the MSEs owners which is likely to facilitate the introduction, adoption, and diffusion of innovations that can in turn, result in the achievement of livelihood improvement. Originality/valueThe study contributes to the existing literature by enhancing an understanding of the mediating role of innovation in the relationship between entrepreneur characteristics and livelihood improvement in the MSEs sector of a developing context. Keywords: MSEs, innovation, mediation, entrepreneur characteristics, improved livelihood, western Kenya.

The Role of Coffee Production and Trade on Gender Equity and Livelihood Improvement in Tanzania

Achieving the sustainable development goals in developing countries will require the realization of benefits from the global supply and value chains, such as coffee, for inclusive economic development and poverty reduction. This study uses the data of 400 men and women randomly sampled coffee farmers from a developing country, Tanzania, to evaluate coffee income distribution, and how general coffee production and trade contribute to gender equity and livelihood improvement. Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition and Gini coefficient models are used for data analysis. We find a gender imbalance from the ownership and control of resources to the participation of men and women in the coffee supply chain. However, investing in supporting the coffee supply chain has an impact on livelihood improvement, due to coffee income inequality reducing effects. There is a gender gap in the income earned from coffee production and trading, which is 44% of the women’s structural disadvantages. Empowerment for equal access to land and credit, and offering trade facilitation services will bridge the existing gender gap. Additionally, developing and disseminating new coffee production technologies that will reduce discrimination, by offering new opportunities and making coffee an inclusive supply chain, remains imperative.

THE SHIFT FROM THE RURAL LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO A MOVEMENT IN JAPAN

Rural communities have long endured poverty, and they continue to tackle the problems of depopulation, a declining birth rate, and an aging population in Japan. Some rural communities face a crisis of survival. The question of this study are how sustainable communities in rural areas are being created. This study examine the process by which rural women have transformed the Livelihood Improvement Program (LIP) into a movement. The process was to expand rural women’s activities to enable them to play an active role in their family, women’s groups, and their community. This expansion reflects the effects of the LIP in rural areas. The LIP was started by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Japan in 1948 to develop self- reliant farmers. The women tried to find solutions to their problems using LIP approaches including problem-solving and the three-by-five cognitive method in group discussions. The LIP was a long-term program and officially ended in 2004. However, the LIP has been continued as a movement for the sustainable development of their community by the women. This study focuses on a case study at the community level involving an update of the LIP program in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The analysis is based on a literature review, secondary and historical data, and fieldwork carried out between 2004 and 2020. From a medium- to long-term viewpoint, their self-confidence improved and they became self-reliant famers. Now women in the older generations are creating employment opportunities through community businesses so that the younger generations may choose to remain in the rural areas in the future. There has been an increasing tendency for young people who moved to the cities to study or work to return to their hometowns. This study found that the most important aspects in susutainable community development are people’s initiative, identity, and pride.

Impact of Training on Livestock Technology Transfer for Rural Poor Farmers Livelihood Improvement in Bangladesh

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of training facilitated by Nuton Jibon Livelihood Improvement Project (NJLIP) under Social Development Foundation (SDF) for transfer livestock technologies and livelihood improvement for rural poor farmers in Bangladesh. A total of 650 farming households were selected by baseline survey during January 2018 to June 2018.The training and non-training beneficiaries were primary level educated and their family size (4.52) was little lower than the national average (4.9). Average age was 36.73 and 35.12 years for training and non-training farmers, respectively. The rate and amount of loan was found higher with respondent received training than without training. Adoption rate of technologies was higher than the level of idea on the concept of housing, feeding, breeding and marketing. The training beneficiaries improved knowledge and skill on feeding, management and health care of livestock and poultry. Training and demonstration are considered two strong tools for adoption and dissemination of livestock technology. Herd and flock size was increased by training beneficiaries than non-training beneficiaries. Beneficiaries having training on various IGAs have expanded their land and asset possession to a greater extent compared to non-training beneficiaries. Housing and sanitation condition of training beneficiaries were higher than non-training beneficiaries. Increased annual income of training and non-training households was 19.43% and 13.30% where income from different IGAs of livestock was 32.19% and 14.53%, respectively. Livestock were not extremely price sensitive but more sensitive on non-price factors logistic support like institutional support, quality of input and availability of input. Thus, training was treated as vital tools for transfer livestock technologies to influence the poor farmer’s livelihood improvement of training household than non-training household. SAARC J. Agric., 19(1): 223-235 (2021)