Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints

The overall aim of this study was to explore what the development community can do, or facilitate, to significantly improve livelihoods in semi-arid systems.The authors based their analysis on two case-study sites in the communal lands of southern Zimbabwe. The main tool was a detailed livelihood qu...

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Autores principales: Campbell, Bruce M., Jeffrey, S., Kozanayi, W., Luckert, M., Mutamba, M., Zindi, C.
Formato: Libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Center for International Forestry Research 2002
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18573
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author Campbell, Bruce M.
Jeffrey, S.
Kozanayi, W.
Luckert, M.
Mutamba, M.
Zindi, C.
author_browse Campbell, Bruce M.
Jeffrey, S.
Kozanayi, W.
Luckert, M.
Mutamba, M.
Zindi, C.
author_facet Campbell, Bruce M.
Jeffrey, S.
Kozanayi, W.
Luckert, M.
Mutamba, M.
Zindi, C.
author_sort Campbell, Bruce M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The overall aim of this study was to explore what the development community can do, or facilitate, to significantly improve livelihoods in semi-arid systems.The authors based their analysis on two case-study sites in the communal lands of southern Zimbabwe. The main tool was a detailed livelihood questionnaire, supplemented by participatory appraisal and observation, action research, biophysical analysis and systems modelling. Most households rely on cash and subsistence income from a number of sources - dryland crop production, gardening, livestock production, woodland activities, wage or home industries and remittances/gifts. Marked wealth differentiation occurs, with local people recognising the different wealth groupings largely on the basis of various capital assets. One factor driving differentiation is whether a household has access to remittance income. Elements of change can be identified in numerous aspects of the capital assets and the livelihood strategies. The authors suggest that there are some key drivers of change, namely: (a) rainfall, (b) macro-economic changes, (c) changing institutional arrangements and social processes, and (d) demographic processes and HIV/AIDS. The overall conclusion is that there are very few options for significantly improving livelihoods in semi-arid regions and that the poverty alleviation targets set by the international community are overly ambitious.The analyses suggest that rainfall variation and the state of the macro-economy are likely to have a greater impact on livelihood status than local rural development interventions.
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spelling CGSpace185732025-01-24T14:12:48Z Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints Campbell, Bruce M. Jeffrey, S. Kozanayi, W. Luckert, M. Mutamba, M. Zindi, C. rural development semiarid zones livelihoods natural resources rural communities macroeconomics rain common lands poverty household surveys case studies The overall aim of this study was to explore what the development community can do, or facilitate, to significantly improve livelihoods in semi-arid systems.The authors based their analysis on two case-study sites in the communal lands of southern Zimbabwe. The main tool was a detailed livelihood questionnaire, supplemented by participatory appraisal and observation, action research, biophysical analysis and systems modelling. Most households rely on cash and subsistence income from a number of sources - dryland crop production, gardening, livestock production, woodland activities, wage or home industries and remittances/gifts. Marked wealth differentiation occurs, with local people recognising the different wealth groupings largely on the basis of various capital assets. One factor driving differentiation is whether a household has access to remittance income. Elements of change can be identified in numerous aspects of the capital assets and the livelihood strategies. The authors suggest that there are some key drivers of change, namely: (a) rainfall, (b) macro-economic changes, (c) changing institutional arrangements and social processes, and (d) demographic processes and HIV/AIDS. The overall conclusion is that there are very few options for significantly improving livelihoods in semi-arid regions and that the poverty alleviation targets set by the international community are overly ambitious.The analyses suggest that rainfall variation and the state of the macro-economy are likely to have a greater impact on livelihood status than local rural development interventions. 2002 2012-06-04T09:08:34Z 2012-06-04T09:08:34Z Book https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18573 en Open Access Center for International Forestry Research Campbell, B.M., Jeffrey, S., Kozanayi, W., Luckert, M., Mutamba, M., Zindi, C. 2002. Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints . Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR. xv, 153p. ISBN: 979-8764-78-1..
spellingShingle rural development
semiarid zones
livelihoods
natural resources
rural communities
macroeconomics
rain
common lands
poverty
household surveys
case studies
Campbell, Bruce M.
Jeffrey, S.
Kozanayi, W.
Luckert, M.
Mutamba, M.
Zindi, C.
Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title_full Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title_fullStr Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title_full_unstemmed Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title_short Household livelihoods in semi-arid regions: options and constraints
title_sort household livelihoods in semi arid regions options and constraints
topic rural development
semiarid zones
livelihoods
natural resources
rural communities
macroeconomics
rain
common lands
poverty
household surveys
case studies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18573
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