This study investigates the determinants of livelihood diversification among agro-pastoral households in Bero and Gorigesha Woredas, West Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Primary data for this study was collected from 371 households, complemented by secondary sources. The analysis was carried out using both descriptive and econometric technique of analysis. Descriptive analysis revealed four main livelihood strategies; on-farm, on-farm + non-farm, on-farm + off-farm, and on-farm + off-farm + non-farm with the majority (36.66%) engaged in on-farm + off-farm activities. Further, the econometric analysis was conducted using a multinomial logit model (MNL), and identified age, education, family size, credit access, input use, saving status, distance from main road, cooperative membership, and risk management practices as significant determinants of livelihood diversification in the study area. Except for family size, which negatively influenced livelihood diversification, all factors positively affected engagement beyond solely on-farm activities. Furthermore, the results indicate that both socioeconomic and institutional factors shape households’ livelihood strategies. Enhancing diversification requires targeted interventions of concerned bodies which include improved access to credit, provision of agricultural inputs, promotion of saving practices, risk management training, and expanded educational opportunities. These measures are essential for strengthening household resilience, income stability, and sustainable development in the study area.
This study investigates the extent and determinants of livelihood diversification among integrated crop- livestock farming households in North-West Nigeria. The study aimed at assessing the integrated crop- livestock farming practices and analyse the factors influencing the livelihood activities of the farmers in the study area. The study used a multistage sampling procedure consisting of 3 states, 3 agricultural zones, 21 LGAs and 84 villages. Data were collected from 405 respondents through structured questionnaires andanalysed using descriptive statistics, the Simpson Diversification Index (SDI) and Tobit regression. Findings revealed a moderate level of livelihood diversification, with an average SDI of 0.58. Farmers engaged in diverse on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm income-generating activities, with on-farm income accounting for 66.66% of the total annual household income, followed by non-farm (23.57%) and off-farm (9.77%) sources. Tobit regression results showed that household size, gender of the household head, and access to credit were significant at the 5% level, respectively while education level and income from various sources were significant at the 1% level, all positively influencing livelihood diversification. Conversely, farm size had a negative and significant relationship, suggesting that larger farms often reduce the likelihood of engaging in alternative livelihood strategies. The study concludes that diversification is a critical strategy for income stability and risk management among smallholders. It recommends enhancing access to credit, promotingrural farmer education and improving rural infrastructure to sustain and expand livelihood diversification.
M. Abdullahi, M. Sulaiman· Agro-Science· 0 citations
Porang cultivation is characterized by delayed economic returns and high exposure to market and climate uncertainties, requiring farming households to adopt adaptive livelihood strategies. Understanding how households manage income volatility and welfare stability in such conditions is critical for rural development policy. This study examines how porang-farming households in Bontolempangang Village construct and organize their livelihood strategies to manage risk, stabilize income, and reduce vulnerability. Using a qualitative case-study approach, the study analyzes household livelihood structures, income sources, and adaptive strategies across on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm sectors. Data were examined through a sustainable livelihoods framework to identify patterns of diversification and risk management. The findings reveal that livelihood patterns are multi-stranded and risk-oriented. Households adopt adaptive strategies grounded in a combination of multiple income sources, including: (i) agricultural livelihood engineering (intensification and extensification), (ii) occupational and institutional diversification, and (iii) spatial strategies such as temporary/circular migration and remittances. Agriculture remains the primary livelihood base, with maize functioning as a short-cycle cash-flow bridge, rice as a subsistence anchor with marketable surplus, and cattle raising as a precautionary liquid asset. These strategies are reinforced by off-farm bamboo crafts and non-farm income (e.g., construction work and village institutional honoraria), which improve cash-flow stability and facilitate consumption smoothing. Porang-farming households construct resilient livelihood systems through strategic diversification and cross-sectoral income buffering. The integration of agricultural and non-agricultural activities serves as an adaptive mechanism to manage delayed returns and mitigate economic vulnerability under uncertain market and environmental conditions.
N. Nurwahidah, Jumiati Jumiati, N. Nadir et al.· Indonesian Journal of Agricu...· 0 citations
This study identifies the determinants of livelihood diversification among rice farming households in climate-vulnerable areas of Central Vietnam by applying an integrated perspective drawn from the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, Portfolio Theory, Risk Management Theory, and Household Decision-Making Theory.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 278 households randomly selected from a population of 5,194 rice farming households in Thua Thien Hue province. A binary logistic regression model examined how diversification participation is associated with livelihood capital endowments (human, natural, physical, financial, and social) as well as socioeconomic and contextual factors, including vulnerability (climate-change perception and idiosyncratic risks), transformation processes (transportation and urbanisation), and policy/institutional factors (extension services, government support, and credit access).
Diversification is associated with substantial welfare differentials, with income increasing by 54% for simple strategies and up to 371.5% for comprehensive multi-activity approaches. Diversification is more likely among households with higher education, better transportation access, greater mobility, and stronger exposure to urbanisation opportunities, while larger farm size, debt, and climate-change perception are associated with lower diversification likelihood.
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference, though robust theoretical foundation enhances confidence in findings. Geographic scope is limited to Central Vietnam, but careful site selection ensures broader applicability to similar agro-ecological contexts facing climate vulnerability.
The study provides context-specific evidence on diversification determinants in climate-vulnerable rice systems in Central Vietnam and demonstrates the value of integrating multiple theoretical lenses to improve the policy interpretability of diversification participation under risk and constraints.
L. Sen, Nguyen Ngoc Lan Chi, Dung Tien Nguyen· Journal of Agribusiness in D...· 0 citations
Farmland access remains a key constraint for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, with increasing reliance on the land rental market. This study investigates the determinants of farmland market participation among smallholder farmers in Ogun State across different land arrangement types, socio-economic characteristics, and participation outcomes. Primary data from 150 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, bivariate logit model, and a problem ranking index. Result of the socio-economic analysis revealed that most farmers were above 40 years, with farming as a secondary occupation for many. Participation in the rental market was notable, with 58% renting in land and 41.3% renting out. Multinomial regression results showed that education significantly reduced the likelihood of choosing ownership (p < 0.001), communal (p = 0.056), and sharecropping (p = 0.009). Farm size positively influenced selection of ownership (B = 0.81, p = 0.001) and communal (B = 1.11, p = 0.004) arrangements. Bivariate logit estimates showed land size significantly reduced the likelihood of renting in (B = -0.84, p = 0.012) but increased renting out (B = 1.02, p = 0.018). Household size increased rent-in participation (B = 0.56, p = 0.031), whereas age significantly influenced rent-out decisions (B = 0.44, p = 0.022). The significant correlation coefficient (rho = 0.411, p = 0.008) indicated interdependence between both decisions. The findings reveal a dynamic farmland market shaped by socio-economic pressures and land scarcity. Land tenure arrangements, farmers' cooperatives, and land information services need to be strengthened to improve land access and rural productivity.
Q. Nafiu, W. Ashagidigbi, A. Ijaoba et al.· FUDMA Journal of Agriculture...· 0 citations
Credit access is a critical enabler of livelihood diversification among rural households, particularly in resource-constrained and climate-vulnerable regions like northern Nigeria. This study examined the extent of credit access, major constraints, and their influence on livelihood diversification among 450 smallholder farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. Data were collected through a multistage sampling procedure and analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logit regression, and the Simpson Diversification Index. Results revealed that respondents were predominantly male (81.1%), married, and middle-aged, with small landholdings and low monthly incomes. Farming remained the dominant livelihood activity, supplemented by livestock, poultry, and petty trading. Formal credit access was limited (31.8%), with most households relying on informal sources such as friends and relatives. The primary constraints to diversification were limited access to credit, high startup costs, and high input prices. Binary logit and other regression analyses confirmed that financial exclusion significantly hinders diversification efforts. The study concludes that financial exclusion remains the main structural barrier to livelihood diversification. It recommends expanded rural credit delivery, reduced borrowing costs, strengthened cooperative financing, and enterprise support programs to enhance household resilience and welfare in Kano State.
F. Abdulwahab, S. Abdullahi, M. Garba et al.· African Journal of Sustainab...· 0 citations
Aims: This study compared the socio-economic characteristics, livelihood capital assets, livelihood strategies, and livelihood outcomes of sandbar and non-sandbar farmers in the char areas of northern Bangladesh.
Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kaunia Upazila of Rangpur District, Bangladesh. Data were collected from October to December 2024.
Methodology: A total of 247 farmers, including 195 sandbar farmers and 52 non-sandbar farmers, were selected using stratified random sampling. Quantitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, complemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Livelihood conditions were assessed using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Sandbar farmers had significantly higher annual household income (BDT 529.47 ± 350.74 thousand), farm size (0.91 ± 1.10 ha), farming knowledge (28.09 ± 5.47), and social participation (12.63 ± 2.60) than non-sandbar farmers (P < 0.05). Human capital (P = 0.026) and social capital (P = 0.003) were also significantly higher among sandbar farmers, whereas natural, physical, and financial capital did not differ significantly. Resource-use typology showed that 99.2% of respondents depended primarily on natural resource-based livelihoods and 86.6% practised diversified livelihood strategies, with greater diversification among sandbar farmers. Although sandbar farmers recorded higher mean food security and environmental sustainability scores and a larger proportion of households in the high food security and high sustainability categories, these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.161 and P = 0.109, respectively).
Conclusion: Compared with non-sandbar farmers, sandbar farmers demonstrated stronger livelihood assets. However, because this cross-sectional study identifies associations rather than causal effects, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. Strengthening extension services, technical support, access to quality inputs, credit, and market linkages may facilitate wider adoption of sandbar farming in the char areas of Bangladesh.
Suraia Akhter, M. H. Rahman, M. G. Farouque et al.· Asian Journal of Agricultura...· 0 citations