This paper examined the factors influencing livelihoods diversification in Rungwe district. Specifically, the study assessed the livelihoods activities in the study area and determined the drivers of livelihoods diversification. The study was carried out in six villages of Rungwe District, Mbeya Region in which about 253 households were interviewed for the study. Data was collected through documentary review, household interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), transect walks and field observation. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 20 and Excel spreadsheet. While chi-square test was conducted to determine the associations between influencing factors and livelihoods activities, content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study results showed that there were various livelihoods activities in the study villages such as cash crop production, livestock keeping, trade and wage labour. Livelihoods diversification was influenced by factors like markets, climate, population, land shortages, institutions, policies, and livelihoods assets. However, agriculture has remained the main occupation of households in Rungwe District. Moreover, market appeared to be a strong factor in influencing livelihoods diversification in the area than any other factors. On that basis, this paper recommends that livelihoods activities which were environmentally friendly should be encouraged. Additionally, markets and transport services should be improved to provide equal opportunities for diversification among rural populations.
It is widely recognised that insufficient and unreliable rainfall threatens the status of food security among farmers in developing countries due to their dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Consequently, the need to understand the importance of the diversification of food crops in abating the impacts of climate variability becomes imperative. This paper studies the diversification of food crops as one of the major adaptation strategies of the impacts of climate variability and its implication on food security. Data were collected through documentary review, household interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observation. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analysed by SPSS version 20 and Excel spreadsheet to summarize the results. The results show that the production of a variety of crops and the use of improved crop varieties were important aspects in the diversification of food crops that better cope with the impacts of climatic variability. The diversification of food crops has emerged to be one of the practices of climate smart agriculture (CSA), which helps farmers to adapt to the impacts of climate variability as it helps in reducing the risk of total crop failure. The study recommends that the government provide farmers with knowledge and skills about proper practices of CSA, and ensure improvement in extension services, which are important for accessing updated information related to impacts of climate variability, new technologies and associated adaptation strategies.
The impacts of climate change has been viewed as a threat to various economic sectors with agriculture being the most affected than other sectors. This forced households to respond in different ways including participation in trade to minimize and resist their impacts. While various studied have reported on different ways of climate change adaptation through agriculture, the assessment of trade related adaptation techniques is inadequate. This necessitated the need to understand the role of trade in adapting to climate change in Kyela district. The paper studies trade as one of the strategies used by rural households to reduce the risks and uncertainties of climate change while sustaining the resilience of their livelihoods. Data were collected through documentary review, household interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs) and field observation. The qualitative data and the quantitative data were analysed by content analysis and Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), respectively. The results show that households are aware of climate change and have involved in trade as one of climate change adaptation strategies in Kyela district. Trade has improved access to new and clean technology, the required goods and services for adaptation and updated climate information, which consequently lead to improved resilience among households. The study recommends that the government should encourage high participation in trade and improve rural markets to provide equal opportunity for participation and profitability through trade which is essential for both improved livelihoods and resilient agricultural production.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.