The Dynamics of Livelihood Assets on Moving Duck Farmers

Abstract

Moving duck farming is a livelihood system that does not occupy a settled location but moves. Therefore, the relationship between livelihood assets, livelihood strategies, and livelihood outcome is influenced by the characteristics of the moving. This study aims to explain the dynamics of livestock capital of duck farmers moving at various distances in their moving cycle. Data collection techniques were participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Comparative analysis was applied to see the dynamics of livelihood assets composition based on sequences and moving distances. The result showed that there was a dynamic utilization of livelihood assets based on the moving cycle between the travel process and the settling process at the grazing location. It was concluded that there were differences in the composition of the use of human capital, financial capital, physical capital, natural capital, and social capital between short-distance, medium-distance, and long-distance movements. This study found that the livelihood assets usage on moving duck farming was attributed to the moving traveled distance. At nearby movements, livelihood assets tend forgone for moving duck farming since they are also used for paddy fields. Livelihood assets, such as human, natural, and physical capital, are more dominant than the financial and social capital. The capital carries out to retrieve the fields after harvesting as a grazing site while sustaining that access. It can be concluded that the livelihood assets utilization in moving duck-based livelihood systems are dynamics based on the cycle and the distance of moving covered.