Impacts of a saline water control project on aquaculture livelihoods in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

PurposeDrought and salinity intrusion aggravated by climate change threaten agricultural livelihoods in Viet Nan's Mekong Delta. In response, authorities have built water management infrastructure for irrigation and salinity protection. This study assessed the impact of one such project, the Ba Lai dam in Ben Tre province, on the livelihoods of aquaculture farmers.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to assess the impact of the Ba Lai dam on the livelihood capitals of 18 farming households in four communes, located both upstream and downstream of the dam.FindingsThe authors find that, apart from some positive effects, the dam has also brought negative environmental consequences, such as increased water pollution. The authors also find that farmers have responded to the changes by adapting their livelihood practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe samples were relatively small, encompassing four communes in Ben Tre province. On the other hand, this case study is instructive to the many ongoing infrastructure projects in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.Social implicationsThe project have caused an increase in water-related social conflict.Originality/valueThe case of the Ba Lai dam provides a cautionary example for infrastructure-based water management plans, both in Viet Nam and more broadly. The study suggests the need to strengthen community participation and prioritize impacts of farmers' capital assets when constructing water management infrastructure for climate change adaptation.

Environment Change and Sustainable Livelihoods in Ethnic Villages Tourism Development of China

The rapid development of ethnic tourism in China has led to changes in the social and economic environment and local livelihood strategies. This study aims to illustrate the environmental changes and the effects of livelihood strategies in ethnic tourism development. Based on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), this study proposed the Sustainable Tourism Livelihood Framework (STLF) and designed the indicator system. The Jinglai ethnic tourism village case study showed the changing process and comparison of livelihood capitals with different livelihood strategies. The study found that the number of Tourism-based Strategies (TBS)and Tourism Strategies (TS) families increases, and the TS livelihood capital is the highest, and the Highly Participation Degree (HPD) family’s capital is also higher. Meanwhile, family members have intergenerational differences in livelihood strategies. Finally, the suggestions about tourism community governance, such as environmental governance, knowledge training, and sustainable assessment, were proposed.

Agro-processing as a tool for poverty alleviation strategy: A case of Raymond Mhlaba municipality

Background: Agro-processing is viewed as a possible poverty alleviation tool for rural development in South African communities. Agro-processing can be a tool for income generation and local economic development for rural settings.Aim: To examine the role and impact of cottage farming in Raymond Mhlaba municipality, rural Eastern Cape province. The study sought to identify ways of developing the cottage and agro-processing industries as a tool for poverty alleviation and local economic development.Setting: Grounded on the sustainable development theory and the human capital development approach, the study explores how rural people in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality utilise their livelihood capitals as a tool for survival.Method: The researcher employed a qualitative approach by using in-depth interviews and focus group discussion.Results: The study revealed that rural households embark on various survival strategies, cottage farming being dominant.Conclusion: The purpose of the study was to enhance small-scale farming using agro-processing as a poverty alleviation strategy, thus promoting a sustainable rural development for the Eastern Cape province.

Effect of Groundwater Stress on Farmers Livelihood Assets: Evidence from Northwestern Region of Bangladesh

<p>This article adopts multinomial logistic regression for determining the livelihood outcomes. Although study could not identify superior or preferred livelihood capitals but showed that livelihoods enhanced by specific livelihood assets framework. Findings provide important information for policymakers to identify different livelihood capitals to secure improved livelihood outcomes.</p>

Effect of Groundwater Stress on Farmers Livelihood Assets: Evidence from Northwestern Region of Bangladesh

<p>This article adopts multinomial logistic regression for determining the livelihood outcomes. Although study could not identify superior or preferred livelihood capitals but showed that livelihoods enhanced by specific livelihood assets framework. Findings provide important information for policymakers to identify different livelihood capitals to secure improved livelihood outcomes.</p>

Effects of access to livelihood capitals on adoption of European Union (EU) approved pesticides among cocoa-producing households in Osun State, Nigeria

Cocoa-producing households’ access to livelihood capitals would help them to adopt EU approved pesticides successfully. However, no empirical studies have addressed these issues. This study therefore investigated the effects of access to livelihood capitals on adoption of EU approved pesticides among cocoa-producing households. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 cocoa-producing households for the study. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multivariate probit regression and double hurdle regression model. The majority of cocoa-producing households (92%) have access to natural capital, followed by physical capital (67.5%), social capital (62.5%), financial capital (58%), whereas only a few (50.8%) have access to human capital. Multivariate probit estimates showed that age (p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.05), farm size (p < 0.05), years of education (p < 0.01), farming experience (p < 0.01), household size (p < 0.01) and membership in cooperative society (p < 0.01) significantly influenced cocoa-producing households’ access to livelihood capitals. The majority of cocoa-producing households (81%) adopt approved pesticides. The first hurdle estimates showed that gender (p < 0.01), education (p < 0.05), membership in a cooperative society (p < 0.05) and access to some livelihood capitals such as human (p < 0.01), physical (p < 0.05) and financial (p < 0.01) capitals significantly influence the probability of adoption of EU approved pesticides. In the second hurdle, gender (p < 0.1), farm size (p < 0.01), household size (p < 0.01), membership in a cooperative society (p < 0.01)and access to some livelihood capitals such as human (p < 0.05), physical (p < 0.01) and social (p < 0.01) capitals are significant in determining the intensity of adopting EU approved pesticides. The study concluded that access to livelihood capitals has potentials of accelerating adoption of EU approved pesticides. Other factors include gender, education, farm size and membership in a cooperative society. Therefore, this study suggests that government policy on uptake of EU approved pesticides should pay more attention on cocoa-producing households’ access to all these factors. Most importantly, policy package to encourage access to livelihood capitals must be strongly advocated.

Smallholder rubber agroforestry farming in the non-traditional areas of Sri Lanka: An application of assets-based livelihood capital indicator approach

This study focuses on Livelihood Capital Index (LCI) as a useful tool in assessing the livelihood assets of rubber-based agroforestry farm households. It evaluates systematically all the livelihood capitals of rubber agroforestry farm households through developing an LCI. A total of 10 livelihood assets variables were broadly classified into five livelihood capital indicators namely; human, financial, physical, natural, and social. Data collected from 220 farm households through a questionnaire survey were normalized to construct five livelihood capital indicators and LCI. The appropriate weights for the livelihood capital indicators were assigned based on the principal component analysis (PCA). The average composite LCI was 0.49 for rubber-based agroforestry farm households and the human capital corresponds to the highest livelihood assets indicator (0.15) followed by financial (0.14), social (0.11), physical (0.05), and natural (0.05). The highest average LCI was reported by the rubber-based groundnut practice (0.54) followed by rubber-based cattle (0.53), cocoa (0.51), passion fruit (0.51), pepper (0.49), maize (0.49), and banana (0.48). Except for physical capital, it also indicates a statistically significant difference in livelihood capital indicators among the rubber agroforestry farmers and other income earners. A significant difference exists in the livelihood capital indicators except for human capital among the Divisional Secretariat. The outcome of this study suggests that the use of LCI is a more analytically rigorous comprehensive tool that can assess the livelihood of rubber agroforestry farmers and enable them to be improved their livelihood assets.