Abstract
Inter and intra seasonal trends in livelihoods options have been reported at country and rarely at ward level in Zimbabwe. Evidence based on local level trends in livelihoods options is rare. This study thus reviewed data on livelihoods activities based on the Agriculture Food Security Monitoring System (AFSMS) surveillance system. It was conducted by the Department of Crop and Livestock Production formerly Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) in four wards of Murewa District over 5 seasons from 2010 to 2014. It was done to document local trends in livelihoods options over time for improved food security. The review consulted AGRITEX records, secondary data from web and other public documents. The results showed that income generating activities and livelihoods options at local ward level fluctuate within the farming season and across seasons. However, contributing factors were not ascertained in this study. Casual labour and market gardening were major sources of livelihoods in the wards under study in contrast to generalised extension reports which indicate crop production as a major livelihood option in the study district. The paper provides local level evidence on trends of livelihoods options and argues for diversified livelihoods coping strategies and adoption of extension messages that go beyond crop and livestock production to include other non–farm (off -farm) based livelihoods options such as brick moulding, arts and crafts. Key words: Trends in livelihoods, socio-economic, extension, income generation, food security, local level.  
Highlights
The sources of livelihoods in rural communities of Southern Africa are mainly agriculture-related and have a bearing on the socioeconomic status of most developing countries (Speranza, 2010; Brown et al, 2012) including Zimbabwe
Casual labour and market gardening were the dominant sources of livelihoods for the communities in the four selected wards during the review period (Table 1)
This could be attributed to favourable production and economic environment that prevailed during that farming season (ZimVac, 2012)
Summary
The sources of livelihoods in rural communities of Southern Africa are mainly agriculture-related and have a bearing on the socioeconomic status of most developing countries (Speranza, 2010; Brown et al, 2012) including Zimbabwe. In. Zimbabwe approximately 68% of the population in the country resides in the rural areas relying on agriculture for income, food security and general well-being of the household members (ZimStat, 2013). Zimbabwe approximately 68% of the population in the country resides in the rural areas relying on agriculture for income, food security and general well-being of the household members (ZimStat, 2013) Their livelihoods are threatened with risks associated with socio economic and environmental factors that need periodical monitoring to avoid disasters at national and household level.
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