Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Farm income

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impacts of shocks and coping strategies of vegetable farm households in Sri Lanka during COVID-19 pandemic : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture and Rural Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-11-22) Rathnayake, Sanduni Anuththara Kumari
    Over time, smallholders in developing countries, including those in Sri Lanka, face a variety of shocks and develop coping strategies in response. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a novel shock to many farm households in developing countries, often negatively impacting their livelihoods. This exploratory qualitative case study provides a comprehensive study on the impact of the pandemic on Sri Lankan smallholder vegetable farm households and their coping strategies. Data were collected from vegetable farm households and key informants in Nuwaraeliya and Kandy districts, mainly using the interview method and data were analysed qualitatively. Vegetable farm households in Sri Lanka faced multiple, diverse shocks characterised by cumulative, consecutive, interrelated, and ongoing events during the pandemic. This mix of shocks resulted in various impacts on vegetable farm households, but the common outcome on all households was f inancial due, in the main, to increased household costs and decreased household income. Farm households that predominantly depended on income from vegetable selling and farm households that produced only specialised types of vegetables for specialised markets were more adversely affected than others. Smallholder vegetable farm households were diverse in circumstances, production and marketing systems, household capitals, reliance on vegetables as an income source and livelihood activity. At any point in time different strategies related to production, marketing and financial hardships were being used by farm households to respond to the impacts of shocks they experienced. However, there was no consistent mix of strategies. The poorest continued to borrow, while others relied on savings and assets and then started to borrow when resources were depleted. How similar strategies were implemented varied across households depending on the social networks of households. While acknowledging the benefit of diversification for farm households during shocks, this study also illustrates that diversification does not guarantee that it will support farm households in buffering the impacts during a wide-scale shock that extends over a long period. However, market diversification supports farm households to buffer the impacts of shocks with broad-scale impacts. This study also identified the significance of individual household members’ personal characteristics such as motivation and enthusiasm in developing strategies and argues for including this attribute in human capital in the sustainable livelihood framework. Research insights strongly suggest that interventions intended to support farm households in buffering the impacts of shocks need to focus on the household level, prioritising the poorest of the poor while remaining open to addressing the needs of other farm households who might be wealthier but adversely affected by shocks. Providing direct financial support and implementing different financial services to accommodate the varied circumstances of farm households will benefit them during shocks. Interventions to build household and local community resilience will safeguard farm households as it will exclude the risk of overreliance on external government support.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of off-farm income in sustaining households in rural Nepal : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Rural Development at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Kayastha, Piush
    Stagnant agricultural productivity and low returns in farming have led rural residents to look for opportunities to earn income from off-farm sources. This research examined the role of off-farm income in sustaining households in rural Nepal, and identified factors associated with off-farm employment and income. One Village Development Committee (VDC) from two ecologically distinct districts (Dhankuta in the Hill and Morang in the Terai) of eastern Nepal were selected for the study. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) workshop (n=6), a household survey (n=150) and key informant interviews (n=6) were conducted to gather data for the study. The average income of the households was Rs 33,963 (approximately US$500) per annum. The most prominent sources of income were agriculture in the Hill households, and off-farm activities in the Terai households. Off-farm income, especially wages, was a major source of household income for the poor households in both agro-ecological zones. Income from business/enterprises in the Terai, and remittances in the Hill, were the primary sources of off-farm income for the non-poor households. They were also the main source of cash income for these rural households. Average expenditure in the rural households was Rs 25,797 (US$380) per annum. Off-farm income contributed nearly half of household expenditure. It contributed especially to the purchase of agricultural inputs and materials. The contribution of off-farm income to a household's expenditure decreased as its area of landholding increased. Both farm and off-farm activities were seasonal and counter-cyclic in rural eastern Nepal. Males and females participated on an equal number of days in cropping activities, but females spent more hours per day in caring for livestock. However, males worked more days off-farm than did females, especially in the Hill. Most of the off-farm activities of females were related to agriculture in both agro-ecological zones. Off-farm employment in the Hill was mainly service-related, whereas that in the Terai comprised a mix of service and trade occupations. Low farm incomes in the Hill and the lack of arable land in the Terai were the primary reasons, respectively, why off-farm employment was sought in the study VDCs. Household landholding, household size, ethnicity and the agro-ecological position of the households were established to be the key determinants of household off-farm income and employment. Characteristics of individuals such as gender, education level and ethnicity affected the type of employment taken up. The more educated, males and those belonging to the Chhetri/Brahmin/Newar ethnic group dominated off-farm employment. Policy intervention measures such as the provision of irrigation and skill-based training are recommended to improve the well being of rural women, disadvantaged people's sub- groups and those located away from major employment centres. Market development and reading are also important elements in increasing off-farm income opportunities, and thus household income. Key words: Nepal, off-farm employment, off-farm income, households' sustainability, labour market, and participatory research.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A quantitative economic analysis of the impact of price reform and the elimination of subsidies on poverty among cotton producing households in rural Uganda : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Masters in Applied Economics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2007) Bealing, Michael
    The benefits of eliminating cotton subsidies for Africa have been studied in terms of a higher world price, greater market share and higher export earnings for Africa. These estimates have focused on macroeconomic gains. This research simulates the effect of increases in the price on incomes of cotton growing households in rural Uganda to assess the impact on poverty levels. The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke measure of poverty is used to analyse the effect price increase on poverty. Results from this research indicate that Ugandan cotton farmers are unlikely to benefit from the elimination of cotton subsidies without price reform within its domestic cotton market. It is estimated that price reform alone can decrease poverty by 5 percent among cotton growing households in the Northern and Eastern Regions of Uganda. The results of the simulations also indicate increasing the price of cotton reduces the income gap for those households that remain in poverty despite the price increase. Thus the price increase decreases the severity of poverty amongst cotton producing households in rural Uganda.