Abstract
This paper attempts to examine survival strategies and livelihood diversification of migrants in Mbozi district, southern Tanzania. A total of 551 heads of households were involved in this study. The study used both quantitative and qualitative techniques in collecting and analysing data where household questionnaire, in-depth interviews, field observations, focus group discussions and documentary review were used as data gathering techniques. Descriptive statistics and content analysis have been used as data analysis methods. The study results indicate that, Ileje migrants adopted a number of survival strategies such as intensification of non-traditional cash crops such as maize, rice, millet and bananas, out-migration, establishment of petty businesses in major trading centres and involvement in casual labour. The study concludes that the adopted survival strategies were seen to be useful in improving the livelihoods of migrants in the place of destination. However, none of the strategy deemed to be sustainable; rather migrants used them interchangeably. It is recommended to provide support, particularly existence of reliable markets for agricultural products, provision of loans with low interest rates and provision of training on business skills in order to help them strengthen their small business and agriculture that seems to act as their major survival strategy. Key words: Survival strategy, livelihood diversification, migrants, Ileje, Mbozi, Tanzania.
Highlights
Rural households have usually been able to make a living from diverse survival strategies (Steel and Lindert, 2017; Ørtenblad, 2015)
The focus of this paper is to investigate the survival strategies of migrants from Ileje district in Mbozi district
When the heads of households were examined by sex (Table 2), it shows that as in all traditional societies the dominance of males as heads of households is quite vivid in Mbozi district Out of 551 heads of households, 93% were male-headed households and only 7% were female headed-households of which has an implication on survival strategies. 7% of female respondents comprised divorced, widows, separated, left behind and singles (Tables 1 and 2)
Summary
Rural households have usually been able to make a living from diverse survival strategies (Steel and Lindert, 2017; Ørtenblad, 2015). The extent and nature of diversification of a household‟s income sources vary In this regard, Senadza (2012) and Ellis and Allison (2004) contend that better-off households tend to diversify in form of non-farm business activities such as trade, transport, shop-keeping and brick-making whereas, the poor tend to diversify in form of casual wage work, especially on other farms. Out-migration is used as a survival strategy to environmental stress caused by population pressure which increases economic difficulties among the community members. This acts as a driving force of some community members in search of other opportunities for survival. Out-migration, is best understood as one of the strategies adopted by individuals, households or communities to enhance their livelihoods. Todaro (1976)
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