Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe

This paper explores changes in rural livelihoods in some communal areas of Zimbabwe from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, and attempts to identify the determinants of change. There were notable increases in: use of informal credit as a main income source; growing certain cash crops; gardening as a ma...

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Main Authors: Campbell, Bruce M., Mukamuri, B.B., Kowero, G.S.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: 2000
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18189
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author Campbell, Bruce M.
Mukamuri, B.B.
Kowero, G.S.
author_browse Campbell, Bruce M.
Kowero, G.S.
Mukamuri, B.B.
author_facet Campbell, Bruce M.
Mukamuri, B.B.
Kowero, G.S.
author_sort Campbell, Bruce M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper explores changes in rural livelihoods in some communal areas of Zimbabwe from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, and attempts to identify the determinants of change. There were notable increases in: use of informal credit as a main income source; growing certain cash crops; gardening as a main income source; and sales of livestock, crafts, firewood and wild fruits. Decreases were noted in cropping area and percentage of households having fallow land, and there was probably a decrease in the level of remittances. Local people perceived deterioration in the quality of natural resources. Most of the changes were already evident in 1985/86. A few only became evident in the 1990s, a period of economic reforms and severe drought. The study relates the changes of the past decade to: (1) general decline in the economy and the introduction of economic reforms; (2) trends towards modernisation and commercialisation; (3) population increase within the communal areas; and (4) drought. These drivers of change need further investigation. In general, there are no changes in woodland quality that can be exclusively ascribed to recent economic reforms. Rather, loss of woodland resources can be largely attributed to increasing populations in the communal areas and to commercialisation trends.
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spelling CGSpace181892025-01-24T14:21:05Z Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe Campbell, Bruce M. Mukamuri, B.B. Kowero, G.S. change crop production living conditions population growth structural adjustment woodlands communes This paper explores changes in rural livelihoods in some communal areas of Zimbabwe from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, and attempts to identify the determinants of change. There were notable increases in: use of informal credit as a main income source; growing certain cash crops; gardening as a main income source; and sales of livestock, crafts, firewood and wild fruits. Decreases were noted in cropping area and percentage of households having fallow land, and there was probably a decrease in the level of remittances. Local people perceived deterioration in the quality of natural resources. Most of the changes were already evident in 1985/86. A few only became evident in the 1990s, a period of economic reforms and severe drought. The study relates the changes of the past decade to: (1) general decline in the economy and the introduction of economic reforms; (2) trends towards modernisation and commercialisation; (3) population increase within the communal areas; and (4) drought. These drivers of change need further investigation. In general, there are no changes in woodland quality that can be exclusively ascribed to recent economic reforms. Rather, loss of woodland resources can be largely attributed to increasing populations in the communal areas and to commercialisation trends. 2000 2012-06-04T09:06:11Z 2012-06-04T09:06:11Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18189 en Campbell, B.M., Mukamuri, B.B., Kowero, G.S. 2000. Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe . In: A.B. Temu, G. Lund, R.E. Malimbwi, G.S. Kowero, K. Kleinn, Y. Malende, I. Kone. Off-forest tree resource of Africa: proceedings of a workshop, Arusha, Tanzania, 12-16 July 1999. :119-137. Nairobi, Kenya, The African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
spellingShingle change
crop production
living conditions
population growth
structural adjustment
woodlands
communes
Campbell, Bruce M.
Mukamuri, B.B.
Kowero, G.S.
Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title_full Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title_short Exploring changing rural livelihoods, and woodland use and management in the communal areas of Zimbabwe
title_sort exploring changing rural livelihoods and woodland use and management in the communal areas of zimbabwe
topic change
crop production
living conditions
population growth
structural adjustment
woodlands
communes
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18189
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