Determinants Of Rural Households Research Articles

Identifying the Status and Determinants of Food insecurity in North Central Ethiopia: A case Study from Borena District, Ethiopia

Currently, food insecurity is a global concern particularly in the developing nations like Ethiopia despite there is governmental efforts. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to identify the status and determinants of rural households’ food security in Borena district, north central Ethiopia. The study followed the positivism world view with a cross sectional study design. The study used multistage sampling procedure which involves a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques to select 358 sample household heads. Household sample survey was the main means that was used to acquire primary data. To identify the status of food insecurity and its determinants, Dietary Energy Supply indicator and Binary logistic regressions model were respectively employed. The results showed that about 71.7% of the respondents were food unsecured households. A binary logistic regression model which was used in the study confirmed that education, cultivated farm size, improved seeds, urban linkages and access to health extension workers positively determined the food security while family size (population pressure) negatively determined the food security status of the households in the study area. Thus, the stakeholders (government bodies, non-governmental organizations, humanitarian agents and community leaders) need to intervene on regularly consumed nutritious foods. Policy reformers and designers should also work hard to reform and design policies on improvements in rural households’ education, size of cultivated land, access to health extension workers, improved seeds and rural- urban linkage in order to alleviate their food security constraints.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Intensity of Flood Adaptation in the Fogera Rice Plain, Ethiopia: Evidence from Generalised Poisson Regression

Effective adaptation to flooding risk depends on careful identification and combinations of strategies which, in turn, depends on knowledge of the determinants of flood adaptation. The main objective of this study was to examine the determinants of rural households’ intensity of flood adaptation in the Fogera rice plain, Ethiopia. A three-stage stratified sampling technique was employed to select 337 sample household heads. Primary data was collected through a structured household survey. Data analysis was accompanied by a descriptive and generalised Poisson regression (GP) model. The descriptive analysis showed that households adopted an average of three (3) flood adaptation strategies. The generalised Poisson regression further revealed that family size, availability of off-farm income, previous flood experience, access to credit, access to extension services, and an early warning information system statistically significantly increase flood adaptation strategies’ average number (intensity). However, the age of the household head negatively and significantly influences the intensity of flood adaptation. More specifically, households with off-farm income, previous flood experience, access to credit, access to extension, and an early warning information system were 20%, 94%, 13%, 30%, and 29% more likely to adopt more flood adaptation strategies, respectively. The findings call for immediate response and coordination among stakeholders to design strategies that enhance households’ livelihood, access to credit, access to extension services, and early warning information systems for effective flood adaptation in the study area.

Determinants of rural households’ livelihood diversification strategies: In the case of north Wollo zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Diversifying rural livelihoods plays a significant role for rain feed-dependent economy of the rural households like in Ethiopia. Hence the objective of the study was to investigate the determinants of rural households’ livelihood diversification strategies choice in north wollo zone of Ethiopia. A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select 384 rural household heads as a sample in study areas. Primary data was collected from sample rural household heads using an interview schedule. Multivariate Probit Model was employed to identify the factors influencing the rural household heads’ decision to choose livelihood strategies. The model result showed that agriculture livelihood strategy was positively and significantly associated with male headed household, land holding, cooperative membership, and participation in rural productive safety net program; while it is negatively and significantly affected by distance to market. Non-farm livelihood strategy was positively and significantly affected by dependency ratio, education level, total income, and remittance; while it is negatively and significantly affected by the sex of household head and participation in rural productive safety net program. Off-farm livelihood strategy was positively and significantly influenced by sex of household head; while it is negatively and significantly affected by the land holding, total livestock unit, cooperative membership, credit use, participation in rural productive safety net program. Therefore, the study recommends that local government should attempt to promote the above significant determinants of rural households’ livelihood diversification strategies choice to build more profitable and sustainable livelihood strategies.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Poultry Chicken Breeds Choice in Wolaita, Ethiopia

To achieve increased productivity in poultry chicken, households’ choice of poultry chicken breeds should be maintained according to their desirability. This study aimed at identifying determinants of rural households’ choice of poultry chicken breeds keeping in Wolaita, Ethiopia. Multistage sampling techniques were used. First, Damot Pulasa district was selected purposively because of high poultry production potential, and then simple random sampling technique was used to select five kebeles and at third stage systematic random sampling was used to select 160 rural households. Data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric regression. Result showed that 54.37% of households owned indigenous poultry chicken breed, 38% owned exotic poultry chicken breeds and 7.63% owned both indigenous and exotic poultry chicken breeds. Households attached socioeconomic, demographic and institutional factors and breed related traits to their poultry chicken breed choices. Indigenous chicken breeds were preferred in mothering ability, disease resistance, scavenging ability; taste of meat and egg traits whereas exotic poultry chicken breeds were preferred for growth rate, productivity and total eggs laid per chicken per year. In addition, Multinomial Logit model result indicated that age and education level of household head determined poultry chicken breed choice. To be effective and efficient any poultry chicken breed promotion effort in the future should consider these particular preferences of households.

The Determinants of Rural Households’ Income in Nigeria

Most rural areas in developing nations were faced with the problem of high poverty rate. A better understanding of drivers of rural household income is a powerful guide for proper intervention towards poverty alleviation and better wellbeing. This study, therefore, investigates the drivers of rural households’ income in Nigeria. Data sourced from National Bureau of Statistics were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results revealed that majority of rural households’ heads were males who were married with an average household size of 6 persons and high dependency ratio (0.94). The majority had a low level of education, depends on agricultural activities and earned a monthly income of N42,142.70. Gender of household’s head, household size and years of education were the significant factors enhancing rural households’ income while dependency ratio was the factor inhibiting rural households’ income. Thus, rural education and women empowerment is needed to boost rural income.

The Determinants of Rural Households Food Security and Coping Strategies: The Case of Meta District, East Hararghe Zone of Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia

Africa is making slow progress in achieving international hunger targets. About 795 million people were chronically malnutrition in worldwide of which 780 million were in developing countries especially in SSA. Recent revised humanitarian requirements documents estimate that 9.7 million people in Ethiopia were in need of emergency food assistance and 420,000 children were requiring treatment for severe acute malnutrition in 2016. So, understanding the major determinants of food security is primary importance in choosing appropriate interventions for addressing the problem of food insecurity. Data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics and institutional aspects were collected from 149 households through interview schedule, key informant interviews and focus group discussion. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and Logit model were used for data analysis. The survey results indicate that 53.02% of the respondents were food secure, while 46.98% were food insecure. Results also indicate that there was a significant mean difference at different level of significance between the food secure and food insecure households in terms of age, sex, family size, dependency ratio, educational levels, size of cultivated land, livestock ownership excluding oxen own, off/non-farm income, cash crop produces, fertilizer user, contact with development agents, improve seeds user, distance to the nearest market and access to credit. Among 16 explanatory variables included in the logit model, 8 of them were found to be significant at different probability level, including sex, size of cultivated land and livestock ownership excluding oxen were positive effect on food security whereas, age, family size, dependent ratio, access to the nearest market and access to credit had negative effect on food security. The major portion of this study was about the determinants of rural households’ food security, it has been realized that the determinants of rural households’ food security were broad, interrelated and varies. These can be addressed by a wide comprehensive intervention from different angles of social aspects. Keywords: Food security, determinants, rural households, coping strategies, Meta, logistic regression, Ethiopia. DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/89-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Rural community use and perception of rangeland products in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The significance of rangelands to the welfare of the rural poor has been acknowledged. The study explores perceptions and determinants of rural households’ rangeland harvesting. A cross-sectional survey of 159 rural households harvesting communal rangeland products was utilized, as well as 64 non-harvesting households. The sample was purposively selected. Dyamala community in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province was the study area, and was also purposively selected. Questionnaires were the data collection tool utilized, aiming at data on demographics, perceptions and participation in rangeland harvesting. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were utilized to analyze the data. The study found that among the rangeland harvesters there was a high positive perception of rangelands in terms of recreation and tourism, storm protection, nutrient retention as well as provision of wild fruit. However, the rangeland harvesters also exhibited negative perceptions towards factors such as the hosting of predators and deity. The decision to participate in rangeland product harvesting was influenced by the age of household head as well as perceptions pertaining to rangelands as a source of medicinal plants, recreation and ecotourism, deep-water wells, storm protection, micro-climate stabilization, income and wild fruit. The study recommends the provision of extension-based training in sustainably utilizing rangelands as a source of income, food and nutrition. Ecotourism can also be promoted as this dualistically and sustainably incorporates rangeland harvesting and income generation from wildlife. Promotion of indigenous knowledge, especially in medicinal plants, may dualistically improve income and health from harvesting such flora as well as enhancing conservation of these vital plants.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Choice of Non-Farm Livelihood Patterns in Southeast Nigeria

The study ascertained the determinants of the choice of non-farm livelihood patterns of rural households in Southeast Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of rural households in the study area, identify the predominant non-farm livelihood patterns adopted by rural households and ascertain available livelihood resources and estimate the determinants of the choice of non-farm livelihood patterns among households in the study area. A five (5)–stage random sampling procedure was used in the selection of 360 samples for the study. A structured and validated interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean, frequencies, percentages and ordered logit regression model. Results indicated that trading (mean = 3.98), commercial cars/motorcycle services (mean = 3.91), Bicycle repairing (mean = 3.71), tailoring and weaving (mean = 3.53), were the predominant non-farm livelihood patterns of the respondents. Furthermore, human capital (mean = 2.86) and social capital resources (mean = 3.13) were their available livelihood resources. Human capital resources (p = 0.001) and physical capital resources (p = 0.076) were the determinants of respondents’ choice of non-farm livelihood patterns. The study recommends that all stakeholders should intensify rural infrastructural development.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Participation in Microfinance Program: The Case of Omo Microfinance Institution, Sodo Woreda, Southern Nations Nationalities, and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia

In a subsistence agriculture and low income countries like Ethiopia, where rural households dominate the overall national economy, who are facing with shortage of financial resources not only to purchase productive agricultural inputs but they also need to participate in income generating activities. Since 1996 Microfinance institutions have made significant assistance to the livelihoods of many people through the provision of financial and supporting services to the poor, especially low income households in rural environments. This study was conducted to assess the determinants of rural household participation in microfinance program and its impact on their income and asset building in Sodo Woreda. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Multi-stage stratified sampling technique employed. Primary data were collected from a total of 190 rural households of which 80 were participants and 110 were non-participants in microfinance programs using systematic and simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and econometric model were used for analyzing the data. Descriptive and test statistic were computed to describe demographic, socio-economic and institutional characteristics and living condition. A propensity score matching method was employed to analyze determinants of rural households’ participation in microfinance program and its impact on income and asset holding of participant households. The result of the descriptive statistics indicate that participants were Participant groups were better off agricultural input usage, clothing status of adult members of the household, annual income earning, amount and quality of food consumed during last five years, total expenditures and total livestock holding. The result of the propensity score revealed that family size, level of education and frequency of extension contact significantly and positively influenced the participation of rural households in microfinance program whereas number of dependent members, application procedure for credit, perception on risk of borrowing and distance of household’s residence from office of Omo Microfinance Institution had significantly and negatively influenced the participation of rural households in microfinance program. The average treatment effect on the treated showed that program participant households earned an average income of 2716.68 Birr and had an average total value of non-livestock asset of 3079.38 Birr and 2.46 TLU of livestock which were significantly greater than that of non-participants. Similarly, the result of descriptive statistics revealed that participants were better off in earning total income, amount, and quality of food consumption and clothing status of adult member of households as compared to non-participants. Therefore, Omo Microfinance Institution and other concerned stakeholders should expand access of microfinance program to rural households in livelihood enhancement and poverty reduction endeavors. Keywords: Microfinance, impact, income, asset holding and propensity score matching. DOI : 10.7176/JESD/11-1-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Land tenure in tea farming and exploring factors influencing a rural household’s decision to exit or enter farming

ABSTRACT: Self-operated land and operated by tenure may affect the sustainability of farming in a region. This study planned to analyze how rural households switch away from tea farming even they have parental land, and how landless access the land for tea farming. For this a total of 138 tea growers were interviewed including 27 farmers who had just ownership of land and had left the tea farming. Logistic regression was applied to assess the determinants of rural household’s decision to exit and enter the land market. Farmers were compared over their farm management practices and personal characteristics. The owned farmers were good in management and adoption of good practice in tea farming than those who accessed land as a shareholder and not had their own land. Rural households head as getting older, having high education and also having an off-farm occupation, having more university graduated family members, and family members having off-farm occupations are more likely to exit from farming and supply their land to rental markets. On the other side, an older and highly educated head of landless family is less likely to become a shareholder. Here also off-farm occupation has a negative and insignificant effect on the probability of landless household working as a shareholder. If the head of the landless family has a wish to become a successful farmer, then he is more likely to work as an owner. It implies that a person is less likely to work as a shareholder and more likely to get land with ownership rights not only land-using rights.

Determinants of rural household’s willingness to pay for karez rehabilitation in Balochistan province of Pakistan

ABSTRACTKarez are an important traditional irrigation system used by farmers in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Increased use of tube well technology has led to abandonment of majority of the Karez systems in Balochistan. In this study, we have attempted to find out determinants of household’s willingness to pay for rehabilitation of Karez systems. We collected primary data in our study area, Pishin sub-basin during August to November 2018 from 200 sample households using structured questionnaire and interviews. Respondents for the survey were selected from households living nearby abandoned Karez systems. We used a chi-square test and regression for data analysis. Results of the study show that bulk of the household (68%) showed willingness for payment to rehabilitate karez systems in Balochistan. Logistic regression model showed that membership in karez committee, land-holding size and security of land tenure significantly affect willingness to pay for karez rehabilitation. Lack of empirical research on restoration efforts for abandoned karez systems drew our attention to find out households’ willingness to pay for the rehabilitation of karezes. Social organizations in the area needs to be strengthened that would motivate household for payment of karez rehabilitation. This will lead to sustainable management of this cultural heritage in the area.

Analysis of Income Determinants of Rural Households in Border Districts of Punjab

Pattern of income distribution of the rural households depends on the various factors like occupation of the head of the household, education of the head of the household as well as education level of its family members, assets and demographic factors. It is necessary to have a skewed pattern of income distribution for the smooth working of the economy. In this context, an attempt has been made in this paper to analyze the various sources and pattern of income in the rural households of border districts of Punjab to understand the changes that is taking place among the different occupational groups in rural households, so as to assess the recent policy initiatives for the equal distribution of income. Sample of 360 households is taken from different occupational groups of rural households for the period 2016. The paper is divided into seven sections. The introductory section is followed by a section of Data Base and Methodology adopted for the sample size of the surveyed farm households. Objectives of the study are defined in the third section and fourth section deals with general features of the study followed by the section of sources and pattern of income. Effect of various factors on the income determination is shown in the sixth section followed by the conclusions and policy implications.

Dynamics of Access to Rural Credit in India: Patterns and Determinants

The study has analysed the changes in structure of rural credit delivery and inclusiveness of rural credit flow across states and social groups, along with identification of factors that influence the choice of credit source. The study is based on the unit level data of Debt and Investment Survey carried out by NSSO during 1992 (48th round), 2003 (59th round) and 2013 (70th round). The structure of credit system has been assessed in terms of access of rural households to different credit outlets, share of formal credit institutions, availability of credit, and interest rate. The determinants of rural households’ choice for credit sources have also been studied. The study has found that the structure of credit market has changed over time and the share of institutional credit has increased. The initiatives taken by the government have paid off and the flow of institutional credit to rural areas has increased significantly even in real terms. The indicators of financial inclusion have shown a sign of improvement. However, regional disparity and presence of informal agencies in the disbursement of rural credit is still persistent. Rural households’ access to institutional credit is influenced by a number of socio-economic, institutional and policy factors. In our analysis, the education, caste affiliation, gender and assets ownership have been found to influence the rural households’ access to institutional credit significantly. A concerted effort and appropriate policy reform are required to make rural households’ access to institutional credit neutral to caste, class and regions.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Food Security in Shiselweni Region, Swaziland: Implications for Agricultural Policy

This paper attempts to identify the fundamental factors that are key determinants of rural households' food security in Shiselweni region, using cross-sectional data and a 2-stage sampling technique to select randomly 141 households from 4 constituencies (Tinkhundla).The coping strategies, head count ratios, and logistic regression modelwere used to obtain the households' food security status and determine significantfactors influencing food security, respectively.Results revealthat 51.7% of the rural households in the regionare food insecure. Logistic regression results show that age, gender, land, and livestock ownership variablesare significantly associated with households' food security at 5 per cent (p<0.05). This study also indicates that 46% of households are likely to employ different coping strategies (reducing food consumption, skipping meals, consuming less than 3 meals per day) as their survival strategy. The implication for policy is that when moving forward in designing and implementing pro-agricultural policy, policy makers should emphasize on improving food availability and accessibility to rural households.

DETERMINANTS OF FARMERS' DECISION TO ACCESS CREDIT: THE CASE OF ZIMBABWE

In developing countries, improvement in productivity through investment in productive ventures, especially in the agricultural sector where majority of the population derive their livelihood is necessary for accelerated economic growth. In this study we look at the determinants of rural households' decision on credit. The study used random sampling of 20-30 farm households from each district and 97 families responded to the questionnaire. The study concluded that the type of crop, household size and gender of household head positively affected the decision by households to borrow while age squared negatively affects decision to borrow.