Livelihood Change Research Articles

Growth and Challenges of Rubber Plantation in North-Eastern States of India

The paper discussed the growth and challenges of rubber plantation in north-eastern states of India. It has been found that there are bright prospects of rubber plantation in the region. Rubber plants were first planted in 1950 in Assam. It helps in changing livelihoods of the tribal communities. Karimkhanj, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup and Goalpara districts are leading in rubber plantation. Rubber plantation is popular among the tribes in the East, West, North and South Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Peren, Mokokchung, Wokha, and Dimapur districts are popular for rubber plantation in Nagaland. Tuensang, Zunheboto, Mon, and Longleng are other districts have more potentiality for such plantation. Rubber board was introduced rubber plantation in Arunachal Pradesh in 1980s. The first rubber tree was planted in Tripura by Forest Department of Tripura in 1963. Tripura and Assam are far ahead then the other states of the region. This region is considered as non-traditional rubber plantation. Rubber plantation have positive impact on the financial status of the cultivators. Lack of skill workers, low price of rubber sheet, low quality of the rubber sheet, shortage of government subsidies, lack of support from the government agencies, and shortage of modern technologies are the basic challenges before the rubber cultivators.

Scaling low-income housing delivery in Kenya and the Philippines: community participation and livelihoods outcomes

The intersection of community participation and livelihoods for the urban poor who move into formalised, low-income housing is the focus of this paper. Drawing on case studies from the Philippines and Kenya, and working with Real Equity for All (Reall) and their partners, we critically examine the dynamic changes to communities moving into new housing funded through the Community-Led Infrastructure Financing Facility (CLIFF) programme of affordable homebuilding. The two contexts contrast different levels of community involvement, savings practices and scales of housing construction. We explore how at-scale construction of low-income housing may mean communities feel more disengaged, whilst noting the challenges of fuller participation. We find that moves to both in situ housing and peri-urban relocation sites have mixed and complex impacts on livelihoods, although livelihood changes are balanced by beneficiaries against quality of life. Construction itself generates work, but direct and indirect community benefits are not straightforward. Our findings fill an important gap in research evidence, addressing how communities and livelihoods change as low-income home builders seek to achieve scale, and how notions of community are generated and reconstituted through savings and homebuilding processes.

Rural Community Income from Rubber Farmers to Gold Miners in Nagari Padang Laweh, Koto VII Sijunjung District

Rural communities experienced a change in livelihood from rubber to gold mining. This results in disruption of income for the community. The focus of this research is to analyze the income of rural communities from rubber farmers to gold miners in Sijunjung. This research uses White's theory about livelihoods. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research type. The data collection method begins with participant observation, in-depth interviews and document study. Data analysis uses Milles Hubermen, starting with data collection, data reduction and data presentation. The results of this research show that changes in livelihoods have an impact on the livelihoods of rural communities. These changes can be seen in economic life and lifestyle. In addition, the changes show an accumulation of additional gold mining vessels.

Resilience of The Sumberwuluh Village Community in Facing Semeru Disaster

Resilience of The Sumberwuluh Village Community in Facing Semeru Disaster

Does increased temperature affect residential mobility? A 20-year nationwide evidence in Australia

People adapt to changes in livelihoods and risks caused by summer high temperature in the era of global warming, which may also lead to residential mobility at the individual level and migration flow at the aggregate level. However, little evidence is available to show the long-term localized impact of summer temperature on residential mobility. Our study aims to conduct a 20-year nationwide investigation of the heat-mobility relationship in Australia to reveal how the increase of summer temperature is associated with the change of residential mobility and how such relationship shifts over time. Employing a tri-environmental (i.e., social, built and natural environment) conceptual framework adapted from the Social Ecological Theory, our analyses draw on the Australian census data from 2001 to 2021 together with the earth observation data to quantify multiple confounders in the tri-environmental dimensions in order to reveal the heat-mobility relationship at the national, state, urban and rural scales. We find that locales with significant increase in summer temperature have less inbound residential mobility, that is, people are less likely to move into heat-affected areas. This study enhances the understanding of how global warming affects residential mobility and settlement, and what adaptation strategies are needed to reduce the heat threat and achieve urban sustainability.

A generational perspective on rural livelihood change

AbstractAs rural places and people are increasingly intertwined between cities, markets and mobility, broader perspectives are needed to examine the multiple changes occurring between rural and urban spaces, and between families and generations. This article discusses how a generational perspective can study ‘more‐than‐rural’ change in a contemporaneous manner. Drawing on field examples from a village on Flores Island, Indonesia, I show how intergenerational views, gathered through household surveys and in‐depth interviews, gave further depth to younger generations' changing relationships to land. Why, despite greater numbers of young people leaving the village for greater work and study opportunities elsewhere, were many parents sure their children would return one day? Using intergenerational and life‐course views to answer this question revealed how many villagers encountered livelihood limitations elsewhere. Furthermore, I show how generational data give fuller explanations to household dynamics, such as how age and gender play a role in the pursuit of migration between family members, and how rural land and households are managed over time and space. I conclude by discussing the strengths and challenges of building a generational perspective to study ‘more‐than‐rural’ livelihood change.

Dampak Kampung Budaya Majapahit pada Karakteristik Sosial Masyarakat Desa Bejijong

Majapahit culture has influenced the social characteristics of the people living in the Majapahit Cultural Village, Bejijong Village. The influence of the Majapahit Cultural Village has encouraged the community to live alongside Majapahit Culture. This research aims to identify the impact of the construction of the Majapahit Cultural Village on the social characteristics of the Bejijong Village community. This research used Emile Durkheim's theory of social change and Sorokin and Zimmerman's theory of village characteristics. The method used is qualitative descriptive with data search methods from primary surveys in interviews, field observations, questionnaires, and secondary data from literature studies. In the preliminary survey, interviews were conducted with Pokdarwis, the Head of Bejijong Village, and the Department of Culture, Youth, Sports and Tourism (DISBUDPORAPAR) of Mojokerto Regency, and a questionnaire was filled in by determining respondents using purposive sampling and the Slovin formula to obtain 44 respondents. There are two research variables, namely demographic and environmental impacts, with six indicators: population size, livelihoods, population density, social stratification, environment, social interaction, and social solidarity. This research was conducted in 2023, but the data is periodic from 2018 to 2022. The results of this research show that the existence of the Majapahit Cultural Village has had a demographic impact in the form of an increase in population, an increase in population density values, and a change in livelihood from being a farmer to being a farmer. I have other jobs in entrepreneurship, establishing tourism awareness groups, and increasing mobility. The ecological impact is that the building has a Majapahit architectural identity, and the community's mindset becomes more open regarding technology and its potential, preserving Majapahit culture.

Exploring communities’ values and uses of intact and degraded forest areas in Central Kalimantan

Tropical peat swamp forest (PSF) values and uses by local communities have been identified as key determinants of sustainable forest management. Understanding these terms has become essential in the conservation strategy decision-making processes, as it integrates the impacted communities concerns of nature. This study aims to enhance understanding of the pressures and motivations for local communities working in the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) Mawas Conservation area in Mantangai, Central Kalimantan. To assess attitudes, usage, and livelihood changes within the intact versus degraded forests, we conducted focus groups in four Dayak communities. Semi-structured interviews were used for data triangulation. The values and uses of the forest were explored with participatory and gender-based analysis tools, analysed with qualitative narrative and contents analysis approaches. Using theme analysis, we assessed how the community protects the forest to determine their possible contribution to PSF protection. Here we present the main values (intrinsic, instrumental and relational) and uses of the forest described by the community, and also critical gender differences. We describe their relevance in relation to the development of a conservation strategy for the area. It also serves as a model for assessment of PSF in other areas and raise awareness of the understudied threats facing these forests and potential opportunities for their protection.

Living with coal in India: A temporal study of livelihood changes

This article asks what it is like for the rural poor to live with coal over time as mines expand and agriculture and forest-dependent ways of living inevitably become more restricted. Research on the expansion of open pit coal mining in India shows a widespread inability to appropriately compensate the rural poor for lost land and access to common property resources. Yet it is simultaneously clear that the growth of coal extraction over time ensures increased community dependence on mainly informal, coal-based livelihoods. What then happens over the long-term for people who live in and around the coalfields? Drawing on evidence from 2011 to 2022, this article explores longer term changes for mine-affected people next to major coal mines in Telangana state, India. Specifically, it examines a) the acquisition of forest and agricultural lands for the expanding mines, b) the operating mines and their environmental implications, but also improved job opportunities, and c) mine closure as an opportunity to rehabilitate the landscape and return the land for alternative community uses post mining. The results add to the understanding of the long-term changes that large-scale mining brings to rural communities, and the challenges to a just transition once coal mining inevitably comes to an end.

Defend and remould–residents’ place identity construction in traditional villages in the rural tourism context: a case study of Cuandixia village, Beijing

This study aims to elucidate the process and internal mechanism of place identity construction in traditional villages under the impact of tourism by taking Cuandixia village as a case. The research methods comprise participatory observation and in-depth interviews with the residents. The main results are as follows: the impact of tourism on traditional villages is mainly reflected in space reconstruction, livelihood change, social relations restructuring and culture change; under the impact of tourism, the representation of residents’ identity construction shows complexity, with positive and negative effects; and the place identity construction of residents affects their perception of and attitudes toward tourism. Moreover, self-esteem and self-efficacy principles play a key role in their perception of tourism. This study provides some reference for further investigation of the tourism development model and the mental mechanism of residents in traditional villages.

Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change on Livelihood of Internal Displaced People, A Case Study of Bamyan Province

Internal displacement and environmental factors have been debatable for developed and developing countries. Climate change may not directly displace people but accelerates the displacement waves. Environmental changes have influenced every aspect of life. The socioeconomic impact of climate change is a challenge for internally displaced Afghans. Displaced people are counted as one of the most vulnerable parts of the community. This study aims to demonstrate the socio-economic impact of climate change on the livelihood of displaced people. This case study is conducted in Bamyan province, Yakawlang district, and the center of Bamyan has been selected as the study area. The snowball sampling method has been applied for conducting this study and the total sample size is (n=235) which includes 88% male and 12% female in the interval of 25-65 years old, targeted people are guardians of their households. Primary data has been collected via questionnaires, questionnaires mainly covered factors that cause people displacement. Data has been analyzed by SPSS 26 with the help of Hayes Process Macro Model 1. The study found that social, economic, and environmental factors have a significant role in the rate of displacement. The study exposed that changes in livelihood among displaced people are usual. The relationship between displacement and food insecurity is recommended for future studies.

Digitalisation and Rural Livelihood Transformation: Evidence from Indonesia

This article examines the extent to which digitalisation transforms rural livelihood in the context of the Global South. We conducted a case study in two villages in Indonesia that represent different digital technologies and rural economies. We found that digitalisation, to a certain degree, encourages changes in rural livelihoods, as it provides opportunities for rural residents to improve their capabilities. However, digital technology is rather used predominantly for social purposes and has thus not yet triggered a major structural transformation in the rural areas. Nevertheless, the more complex nature of digital technology adopted by the community tends to trigger more significant changes in rural livelihoods. It is thus to be expected that with more intensive future use and complex types of digital technologies, digitalisation will significantly influence rural transformation in the Global South.

Analysis of independent city concept in reclamation area PIK 1 & PIK 2 based on community, government, and private sector role

Reclamation is part of spatial planning to make coastal areas more useful, as well as to increase land resources from an environmental, social and economic point of view. The development of the PIK (Pantai Indak Kapuk) 1 and 2 reclamation areas is a concept of a sustainable Independent City. The role of the community, government and private sector plays an important role in developing the region. It is also necessary to pay attention to the environmental impact caused by reclamation activities. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods with a descriptive analysis approach by collecting data from review articles, questionnaires and using maps via satellite imagery. Through the participation of the role of the community which is divided into the general public, fishing communities, and affected communities explaining the interrelationships where the general public's perception of the most supporting parameters for independent cities is infrastructure and land use, then fishing communities have an impact on fish catches, as well as affected communities experiencing rejection resulting in a change in livelihood. The government's role in regulatory planning as a regional spatial plan includes planning processes, infrastructure, public services and a sustainable environment. The role of the private sector can be seen from the planning and development process which chooses to build supporting infrastructure such as tourist centers, shops, public transportation and other facilities. CSR programs by private parties or developers are one of the efforts to contribute positively to the environment and surrounding communities. Correlation of independent cities with land use from planning, development and development processes that reflect the commitment and role of the community, government and private sector seen in 1995, 2014, 2023 The concept of balance and independence in independent cities emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach in urban planning and management. PIK 1 & 2 reclamation areas based on independent cities based on the role of the community, government and private sector in regional development are the key to achieving sustainable development.

Examining the Role of Intergenerational Relations in Food Systems: Evidence from Western India

Food systems and their normative goal of achieving food security remain a robust global agenda. However, with the shifts toward a sustainable food system, there is an increasing interest in consolidating evidence on multiple dimensions of the food system. This article is an empirically grounded argument for using intergenerational relations to expand understanding of food systems by looking beyond the usual security outcomes and emphasising social welfare outcomes. Drawing on ethnographic research in an indigenous village in western India, I examine a rural, local food system and the transformations therein because of various socio-economic drivers, including changing livelihood opportunities. Evidence shows growing generational solidarity, with some positive effects for environmental sustainability and for revaluing indigenous culture, including traditional food systems, and generating new local livelihoods. Simultaneously, though, tensions are being created around intergenerational autonomy and cultural expressions. Moreover, the food transition has resulted in a decline in the nutritional content of local diets, which has health implications. This article raises questions whether trends towards sustainability and resilience are necessarily mutually reinforcing for natural resource-dependent indigenous communities and our natural environment.

Livelihoods of young women with and without disabilities in KwaZulu-Natal during COVID-19.

Persons with disabilities are more likely to have poorer livelihood outcomes, including food insecurity. Inequalities are heightened for young women with disabilities, especially in times of crisis. To understand the livelihood experience of young South African women with and without disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). We conducted a longitudinal study with 72 young women with and without disabilities enrolled in tertiary institutions in eThekwini, South Africa. We undertook a series of in-depth interviews collecting quantitative and qualitative data, prompting participants' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, including living arrangements, impact on education, access to resources and food security. Participants reported livelihood changes related to living arrangements, education, income, and social connectedness during the pandemic. Social grants (old-age pension, child support, disability grant) and student stipends were critical financial resources to ensure food security. Participants with disabilities were more likely to experience food insecurities and moderate hunger, with their households having less access to mitigating resources such as land or livestock. Deaf participants also reported social isolation. The study shows that social protection mechanisms mitigated the financial impact of the lockdown for all recipients but that participants with disabilities still struggled more than others to ensure food security. These additional challenges may be related to pre-existing inequalities, with participants with disabilities and their households having less access to natural resources and financial stability. This paper focuses on young women with and without disabilities and provides insight into the similarities and differences in their experiences.

Preserve and Promote the Traditional Cultural Values of the Tay and Nung people in Tourism Development in Cao Bang Province, Vietnam

The development of tourism linked to the unique cultural values of each ethnic community is becoming an essential trend in the tourism sector. The Tay and Nung ethnic communities in Cao Bang province are among the ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, with rich cultural and social lives that hold significant importance in tourism development. The traditional cultural values of the Tay and Nung people deeply embody the cultural identity of the ethnic group and represent a rich cultural potential in the tourism development of Cao Bang province. Successfully managing the relationship between preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Tay and Nung people in Cao Bang province in connection with sustainable tourism development will contribute to changing livelihoods, enhancing the quality of life for the people, and ensuring the sustainable development of the country.

Household livelihood resilience of pastoralists and smallholders to climate change in Western Himalaya, India

Smallholders and pastoralists are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their high reliance on socio-ecological systems for their livelihood. Building their resilience to these adverse effects of climate change is crucial for mitigating their vulnerabilities, especially in remote and fragile ecosystems. This study aims to assess the climate change livelihood resilience of smallholders and pastoralists in the Indian Himalayas. We build a livelihood resilience index, using the three dimensions of resilience, namely assimilative capacity, autopoiesis and cognitive ability, and weighed using entropy-TOPSIS approach The dimensions of resilience was estimated through indicators by a household survey of 289 randomly selected respondents across the three districts of Garhwal Himalayas. The results showed that the livelihood resilience of smallholders was greater than pastoralists. Among pastoralists, settlement brought positive changes to their livelihood, opening the gateway to access basic facilities. Key findings of the study indicate that public policy should focus towards information accessibility, encouraging environmental awareness and conservation, promoting social inclusion and cooperatives, and fostering grass root organization structures like forest-level organisation through informality to strengthen the resilience of communities to climate change.

Occupational Shift among Dalits

This paper examines how caste relations are affecting conventional caste-based artisan occupations at present changing scenario of Nepali society. Its focus has been to examine how changes in livelihoods have affected the traditional occupational status of Dalits in semi-rural parts of the Kaski district. Relationship between Dalit and non-Dalit families, traditional artisan and occupations have been an integral part of Nepalese society and culture. They have bound Nepali families together based on their livelihoods. Patron-client relationships between Dalits and non-Dalits, on the other hand, were based on an unequal relationship. This relationship is labeled “unequal” because the people belonging to the Dalit community have been discriminated all life in social practices while having a no way out to escape from the clutches of the cashless peasantry and artisan occupations of the 'Balighare and Hali pratha' while lagging behind in land ownership. Sewing, Ploughing, and Blacksmithery, works based on birth were common. This form of patron-client relationship where the upper castes exploitatively extracted more from what the Dalits had to offer is best termed as an “unequal relationship”. For the purpose of this qualitative research, on-site interviews were arranged with the sixty members from the Dalit households, as per the consent and availability of the participating families. All of them had a history of working the traditionally assigned artisan occupations, while some of them still continued doing so. Most respondents have terminated 'bali pratha' which was based on patron-client relationships between Dalits and non-Dalit families. The young generation shows indifference to the forefather's occupation. Different factors, like the market-based production system and migration trends and the influences of urbanization encourage them to change their traditional occupations. Large numbers of Dalits are now employed in non-agricultural areas for a living. Similarly, livelihood diversification is helping weaken the caste-based occupation in the study area.

Transient thermal modelling of a Mediterranean greenhouse for sustainable agriculture: Comparison of desert and dry-summer subtropical climates

Climate change has become increasingly dominant in recent years and threatens food production and security in many areas worldwide. Due to the increase in temperature in some regions, there is a drought problem in agricultural food production, causing issues for food security. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that climate change causes a reduction in crop quality and yield changes in farmer livelihoods. Greenhouse agriculture is a common and more protected farming management system than open-field farming. However, the influence of different climate regions on agricultural production in greenhouses should be investigated. In this study, thermal modeling of a greenhouse with and without ventilation is performed to determine the temperature and humidity variations of the greenhouse indoor air variations in selected provinces from Türkiye and Qatar to represent the effects of different climate regions. The impacts of variable climatic conditions on the greenhouse’s indoor and agricultural plants’ temperatures are investigated. Furthermore, implementing a heat pump as heating and cooling equipment in the greenhouse is studied. The yearly average vegetation and indoor temperature, respectively, are determined as 31.41 °C and 30.04 °C for Doha and 21.69 °C and 20.43 °C for Izmir. While the annual average unconditioned indoor temperature is found as 30.04 °C, the average conditioned indoor temperature is determined as 23.67 °C in Doha City. Moreover, the combined climate control mechanisms reduce the number of hours out of the optimum temperature range from 8013 to 1.4 and from 2640 to 3.1 in Doha and Izmir, respectively.

Indigenous Knowledge and Tribal Worldview on Forest

This durable ethnographic study explores the Indigenous knowledge of the local landscape of the Juang one of the Particular Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha. Following an ethno-ecology method supported by the case study method, an attempt has been made to highlight the emic view of the tribal people based on their knowledge and worldview. All parts of their natural environment, like hills, streams, forests, vegetation soil type etc. are integral parts of their cultural ambience. Classifying the resources found within their lives and livelihood activities incorporates the bio-physical tenets that include the use, composition, position, and size of the objects and belief system as an inseparable part of their culture. Explanations attributed to naming the natural objects and material goods reveal that with the change in contents due to internal demands and/or external interventions, the context of livelihood changes however, even with the decline of biodiversity, the traditional knowledge remains unchanged.