Livelihood Diversification Research Articles

Rural livelihoods, community-based conservation, and human–wildlife conflict: Scope for synergies?

Halting biodiversity loss is a major contemporary challenge. Nature protection can help conserve biodiversity, but increasing wildlife numbers inside protected areas and shrinking habitats intensify interactions between humans and wildlife, potentially causing human–wildlife conflict (HWC). Contemporary narratives of HWC highlight detrimental effects on households' socioeconomic outcomes. Despite a wealth of literature on HWC, many studies remain descriptive and little inferential evidence has been provided. Here we identify the determinants and effects of reported HWC on household outcomes using spatial predictors and an original farm-household dataset collected in Namibia's share of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. In addition to dependence on agriculture, we find that community-based conservation, the share of a community's area set aside for conservation, and habitat connectivity are key drivers of HWC. Contrary to contemporary narratives of HWC, we find that reported conflicts did not have strong negative effects on household income and livelihood diversity. Conversely, community-based wildlife conservation increases income and livelihood diversity among participating households. It is, however, also associated with food insecurity concerns. Such concerns may be driven by comparatively higher restrictions related to land use planning and zoning that constrain productive land uses, such as agriculture. Our findings suggest that community-based conservation can create development synergies for households in favorable environments, despite increasing HWC risks. However, potential trade-offs including non-material costs warrant further research.

Integrating “Fish Skin” and Tourism: A Sustainable Livelihoods Approach

As a kind of handicrafts with strong social and cultural connotations, the production and consumption of fish skin handicrafts have a high potential to be integrated with tourism to enhance community livelihood sustainability. A sustainable livelihood approach is used in a fish skin tourism context in Jiejinkou Town, Heilongjiang Province, China, to examine critically the interactive relationships between “fish skin” and tourism. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with management officials, community leaders, representatives of fish skin handicrafts and village residents in four field investigations in 2020. Improvement in community livelihood sustainability was identified through the enhancement of livelihood diversity and choice. However, impacts on household livelihood sustainability varied as tourism participation is restricted by the level of livelihood assets. The increase of the within-community income gap may generate social problems in the long run. The current level of “fish skin” and tourism integration is limited. The history, culture and traditions related with fish skin handicrafts are not widely disseminated by local fish skin handicrafts producers. Opportunities for in-depth and diversified fish skin tourism experiences are being recognized, which calls for partnership with those involved in tourism. Practical implications are discussed to enhance fish skin handicrafts and tourism integration, boost local participation, enhance local benefits, and particularly, to engage those with lower levels of livelihood assets.

Changing Dynamics of the Bote Communities in Sarlahi and Tanahun: A Comparative Study

The objective of this paper is to analyse the lifestyle of the Botes living in Baireni of Tanahun and Karmaiya of Sarlahi District of Nepali. Traditional livelihood patterns of both places are in transition. Now they are shifting towards agriculture, manual labour, government job, carpentry and engaging in foreign employment. To examine all these issues, this research has adopted over two geographical locations, namely Baireni of Tanahun district and Karmaiya of Sarlahi district; the method is exploratory, descriptive and comparative. In order to meet the objectives of this research, data collections were from multiple approaches. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and household surveys were two forms of the the data collection in this research. Collection of oral history, key informant interview, focus group discussion, informal meeting were also applied. It has made the entire methodology an admixture of Qual-Quan approaches. This study concludes that there are a number of instances of livelihood diversification among the Botes of Karmaiya in Sarlahi and Baireni in Tanahun district. Some of such diversifications include commercialization of farm in the rural Bote villages. This has come about because of urban expansion, expansion of various non-agricultural work opportunities in factories, workshops, private offices and to some extent government office as a result of urbanization. This supports the findings of Ellis (1998) and Babbington (1999).

Livelihood Diversification and Cocoa Farmers’ Wellbeing in Rural Cameroon; an Empirical Analysis

Cocoa farming is a key livelihood strategy for farmers in rural Cameroon, as studies have significantly revealed its contribution to the wellbeing of rural dwellers. Yet, the wellbeing outcomes of livelihood diversification for cocoa remains relatively less understood. This study analyzes the effects of livelihood diversification on the wellbeing of cocoa farmers in rural Cameroon using household data (N = 430) from six cocoa producing divisions in the South West Region. With the use of the Path Regression and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the study identified; access to credit, government assistance, temperature and rainfall, the use of chemical spray and fertilizers, and support from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) as welfare determinants. Climate variability (temperature and rainfall) has a significant negative effect on cocoa production, while the use of fertilizers and chemical spray has a positive effect on cocoa production and thus household income (welfare). The study revealed that diversification has a positive effect on cocoa production and a negative effect on household income. The study therefore recommends the initiation of a policy that will enable the establishment of a “risk management scheme” (insurance scheme) for cocoa farmers which would include the following: Production Insurance, which compensates cocoa farmers for lower yield due to adverse climate, wildlife, pest infestation or disease and other disasters; Agristability, which will compensate cocoa farmers for significant drops in their prices and farm income.

From participation to commitment in silvopastoral programmes: Insights from Chiapas, Mexico

Sustainable farming near tropical forests can buffer ecosystems at risk of biodiversity loss. In mountainous forest frontiers however, many smallholders raise cattle using practices that degrade land, also endangering future livelihoods. Silvopasture, a type of agroforestry, enables cattle farming, biodiversity conservation and can have climate benefits. But its adoption is slow, and ambiguity remains regarding the most relevant predictors for the adoption of agroforestry more broadly. In the context of a pilot silvopastoral project in La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, we model livelihood diversity as a predictor of both farmers' participation in the project and their adoption of silvopasture (trees grown after a year). We use data collected with a novel token-based approach (n = 104) and account for selection bias. The findings show that livelihood diversity is significantly associated with the two outcomes, but with opposite directions: higher participation and lower adoption levels. Our results provide insight to design and target policies to encourage innovative and sustainable agriculture, especially in contexts of multiple interventions and policy mixes. For example, programmes including economic incentives may consider helping participants overcome different barriers at each stage of the adoption process: in the initial decision to try and during implementation.

Determinants of acceptability of cricket consumption and adoption for improved food security among riparian communities of the Victoria basin, Kenya

The dynamics of weather variation have overstretched animal protein from already overburdened environment; malnutrition is likely to be on the rise with human population growth projected at 9.7 billion by 2050. This has seen cricket consumption for household food security increasing in the past decade. Cricket (acheta domesticus) farming can contribute positively to solving malnutrition problems being experienced among the riparian communities in the Kenyan Lake Victoria Basin. Cricket farming presents a livelihood diversification strategy that can help buffer rural households against food insecurity and provide an alternative source of income. However, its adoption as an alternative source of protein for improved household food security has remained low among smallholder farmers. The study investigated determinants of acceptability of cricket consumption and its influence on adoption for farming as an alternative source of food. The study employed a mixed methods research approach to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 120 trained cricket farmers from selected riparian counties including Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay in Kenyan Victoria basin. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model were used to summarize quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data by thematic arrangements and similarities across different investigation areas. Based on data analyzed, the results indicated that cultural beliefs, perception and attitude such as cultural value attached to cricket consumption (p = 0.021), crickets are sweet and tender than poultry (p = 0.037) as well as age with a p<0.028, had statistical significance on acceptability to cricket consumption. On the other hand, regression β coefficient of awareness, access and availability were found to have no association with the adoption of cricket farming. The study recommended that: first, the government formulates a policy on farming edible insects as mini-livestock and improved food security. Secondly, further study is needed to determine possible strategies for changing attitude towards cricket consumption for increased adoption by smallholder farmers. Key words: Food security, malnutrition, cricket, acceptability, consumption, culture, attitude, communities, adoption

Resilience of Ethiopian Agropastoral Households in the Presence of Large-Scale Land Investments

Agropastoral societies in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa are facing challenges in their land use. Land shifts toward large-scale land investments have exacerbated the scarcity of pastures, thus affecting the resilience of pastoral systems. In this study, we assessed how large-scale land investments affect household resilience using data from the Living Standards Measurement Survey in Ethiopia. We estimated household resilience capacity by a multivariate two-step factor analysis and welfare resilience from net changes in welfare outcomes between two survey intervals. We also assessed the effect of large-scale land investment on household resilience using random effects ordered logistic regression model. Factors that enhanced the resilience capacities of households included access to livestock markets, social safety nets, extension, mobility, and social services. Approximately one-third of the study population had a low resilience capacity, and more than half had low welfare resilience. Moreover, proximity to a large-scale land investment significantly reduced households' likelihood of having high resilience capacity. Therefore, future resilience programs in agropastoral areas should mitigate the adverse effect of large-scale land investments by enhancing livelihood diversification and households' access to communal pastures.

Agricultural Development and Socio-Economic Profile of Farmers in Arunachal Pradesh: With Special Reference to Tawang District

Arunachal Pradesh is an agrarian economy and it is the main source of earnings for people. In Arunachal Pradesh, the contribution of the agriculture sector to its GSDP is 44.78 percent. The present study is to analyze the trend and growth in production and productivity of food crops in Arunachal Pradesh. It also tried to examine the socio-economic profile of farmers in rural households. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. The secondary data were collected from NEDFI Data Bank and Statistical Abstracts of Arunachal Pradesh. The primary data were collected by conducting field surveys in Tawang District. The survey was based on a multi-stage sampling technique. In the first stage, the Tawang district was selected and in the second stage, Namazing and Kharsa villages of the Jang block were selected purposively. The sample size was 50 households. During the study, it was found that the overall production of food crops in the state was very low. The main issues of agriculture development in the state are limited arable land and low productivity. There has been a diversification of livelihood towards nonagricultural income sources. The socio-economic profile of farmers are found poor. People’s dependency on the public distribution system for food grains has substantially increased. It is a indication of inadequate production of food grains in the district. There is a need to focus on improving the productivity of major crops as the income of farmers is low.

Determinants of urban households’ livelihood diversification strategies in North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

Livelihood diversification is important for urban development to end poverty and food insecurity problems. In Ethiopia, urban livelihood diversification is quite low specifically in North Shewa Zone. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of livelihood diversification strategies for urban households in the North Shewa Zone. The data were collected through both primary and secondary data collection methods. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 398 household heads from three urban areas of the North Shewa Zone. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the determinant of livelihood diversification strategies in the study area. The results of the model revealed that livelihood diversification strategies were determined by the age of the household head, education status, family size, credit access, market access, and training and extension service positively and the dependency ratio was negative. The study recommends that the zonal and regional governments of Ethiopia should develop a comprehensive urban development policy that could empower off-farm and non-farm urban livelihood diversification strategies besides the farm activities.

Assessment of Livelihood Security and Diversification of Tribal Dairy Farmers in NEH Region of India

Indian economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and livestock. Approximately two-thirds of rural communities rely on livestock for their livelihood. Livestock has traditionally been an integral part of the framing community of Tripura. The rearing of cattle, pigs, poultry, and other livestock provides livelihood support to the rural masses in the state. The present study was conducted in Tripura during 20221-22 with objective to analyse access the livelihood security and livelihood diversifi cation of the farmers practicing dairy farming. For data collection, three districts (West Tripura, Khowai, and Sepahijala) were selected by the purposive sampling method. Out of total 12 selected villages, a sample of 120 dairy farmers were chosen for primary data collection. The access the livelihood security consists of 7 subindicators viz. Food security, Economic security, Health security, Education security,Social security, Infrastructural security, and Institutional security. The fi ndings of the study indicated that there is infrastructural security 78.28 per cent contributed the most to improving the overall livelihood security of farmers, whereas social security 28.33 per cent contributed the least to improve the overall livelihood security of farmers. Majority of respondents had medium 'Livelihood Diversifi cation (67.50%) while 36.7 per cent were found in the category of low 'Livelihood Diversifi cation'. Only 0.83 per cent of respondents in the study area were motivated to highly diversify their livelihoods. Income and land holdings were found to be signifi cant associated variables with livelihood diversifi cation.

The importance of artisanal and small-scale mining for rural economies: Livelihood diversification, dependence, and heterogeneity in rural Guinea

A number of development interventions have sought to improve livelihoods and benefits in diamond mining communities. Local interventions can include activities such as formalizing and securing the tenure of mining claims, converting mining sites to agricultural sites, alternative livelihoods, land use planning, and training miners in SMARTER mining techniques. However, there are strong assumptions underlying the program logic and context for many of these interventions. To interrogate these assumptions, this paper explores livelihood dependence and motivations for ASM, in-formality and rules, and environmental costs with a focus on differential responses for indigene miners versus national and transnational miners, as well as for full-time career miners versus part-time miners. We also analyze the variation in responses across two diamond mining areas. The findings challenge several key assumptions that inform development programming around alternative livelihoods and formalization in the context of ASM. The results demonstrate that ASM is fully embedded in the local economy in the study area, although there is significant heterogeneity in livelihood dependence and diversification within and between mining sites. We find that low conflict results challenge the general association of artisanal miners and violence, in part due to effective customary systems for land management. The analysis highlights elements of ASM management that would benefit from programs or policies that seek to facilitate ASM as a sustainable approach for local economic growth.

Differences In Livelihood Activities Householdes of Sasak Farmers and Sasak Fishermen In The Province of West Nusa Tenggara

One of the provinces experiencing chronic problems regarding the emergence of cases of malnutrition and malnutrition is West Nusa Tenggara Province. The province, which is known as the national rice barn, is indeed facing the problem of cases of malnutrition and undernutrition from year to year. As with the typical characteristics of coastal ecosystems, coastal communities also have sociological characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of ecological adaptation patterns in the form of livelihood diversification for coastal Sasak households and Sasak rice fields, and to examine the socio-cultural system on the nutritional status of children under five in the coastal and Sasak Sasak communities. The research method used is to combine quantitative and qualitative methods with a post-positivism paradigm approach. The first assumption that underlies this research, is based on Steward's understanding through his theory of cultural ecology, that the adaptation of society to the environment will produce a distinctive cultural form. The results showed that the form of livelihood diversification for upper-middle-class households who owned agricultural land applied debt, manipulative, and vertical cooperation strategies. It was found that the relationship between nutrition for pregnant women and toddlers through meaning is a reflection of the cultural value orientation of the Sasak community. The meaning of the number of children plays a role in the causes of cases of malnutrition and malnutrition in coastal areas. Meanwhile, in the rice fields, on the other hand, there is a tendency for divorce to occur which causes families in the rice fields to be more fragile. The effect of ecological adaptation by households of children under five in coastal Sasak and Sasak rice fields is reflected in the value orientation which is closely related to the source of causes of cases of malnutrition and undernutrition.

LIVELIHOOD VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMAL FOOD SECTOR IN OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

The informal food sector is a vital part of rural, peri-urban and urban communities sitting alongside formal economic activities and trading procedures for centuries. It largely contributes to the local economy. However, since they source their supplies from agricultural produce in the local markets, they become vulnerable to the uncertainties which could possibly result to livelihood vulnerability. This descriptive study aimed to assess and describe the livelihood vulnerability level of the informal food sector, determine the issues, challenges and opportunities and identify policy implications that could improve the livelihood resiliency of the informal food sector in Occidental Mindoro. The Livelihood Vulnerability framework of Hahn (2009) where seven indicators were used in determining the vulnerability: socio-demographic profile, livelihood strategies, social network, health security, food security, access to utilities, and disaster experience. A random sampling of 200 informal food enterprises was employed to three market areas San Jose, Magsaysay and Rizal in Occidental Mindoro. The livelihood vulnerability index was used to describe the vulnerability level. The study revealed a low to moderate vulnerability level of the informal food enterprises. The issues, challenges and opportunities of the informal food sector include their limited access to formal credits, high dependency ratio, poor educational background, low marketing skills all contribute to their livelihood vulnerability. However their high adaptive capacity specifically in livelihood diversification and their ability to supply the essential needs of the market enhance their resilience They bank on two business strengths: affordability and availability which have become their investment to develop their regular buyers.

Wetlands in drylands: Use and conflict dynamics at the human–wildlife interface in Mbire District, Zimbabwe

AbstractWetlands in drylands are important resources for agriculture and wildlife, but competition may result in human–wildlife conflict. We sought to understand conditions under which people and wildlife sharing wetlands in drylands may coexist. We applied track counts in riverine wetlands in the dry and wet season (n = 36 days) using belt transects, focus group discussions (n = 3), key informant interviews (n = 26), a household socio‐economic survey (n = 180) and secondary data analysis to study human–wildlife interactions in a community‐based wildlife management area in Zimbabwe. Twenty‐six wildlife species that used riverine wetlands were identified. High population density and riverine agriculture — with access to cattle and ploughs enabling cultivation of larger fields — limited wildlife access to wetlands. Seasonality, drought, water availability and soil fertility, aggravated by limited alternative livelihood opportunities and lack of political will to control cropping and settlement in wetlands, were drivers of conflict. Hence, models based on population pressure and resource availability are insufficient to inform human–wildlife conflict mitigation. Strategies that undercut rent‐seeking behaviour are needed to enable human–wildlife coexistence. Concerted action among stakeholders including linking wildlife conservation benefits to compliance with wetland‐use regulations, water‐user committees, water provisioning and labour‐saving technologies in uplands, livelihood diversification and incentivised production of drought‐tolerant crops are recommended.

Environmental pressures and pro-government militias: Evidence from the Philippines

This study analyzes whether climate disasters and climate-induced food scarcities influence individuals’ willingness to fight for the state in a pro-government militia in the Philippines. We find that experiencing a disaster or subsistence loss corresponds to an increased willingness to join, even when accounting for other prominent explanations in the literature. This outcome, we argue, reflects the impact of climate change on the opportunity costs of conflict participation, especially in regions dependent on agriculture for income and food production, as diminished livelihood opportunities and subsistence resource access increase the viability of conflict participation as a strategy for livelihood diversification.

Vulnerability Assessment of Climate Change in Vietnam: A Case Study of Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Climate change poses additional obstacles to poverty eradication and social justice. Rising temperatures, abnormal rainfall increases, storms, floods, and droughts have become more frequent and severe phenomena in Vietnam. This causes serious consequences for the livelihood security of the poor. Binh Chanh district (Ho Chi Minh City) is an area subject to severe risks of climate change in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam. Here, the low-income groups are the most vulnerable because their adaptive capacity is still limited and low. This study uses the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) to assess the level of vulnerability to climate change in households and communes in the Binh Chanh district. LVI includes three components: exposure (E), sensitivity (S), and adaptive capacity (AC) based on 23 indicators selected by reviewing the literature and consulting with experts. The article also conducted surveys with 931 households in 16 administrative communes in Binh Chanh for primary data. The research results showed that Tan Kien and An Phu Tay communes have the highest level of vulnerability since they are areas with mainly low-lying terrain and contiguous location rivers; the people in these towns are also vulnerable groups because they do not have a stable source of income, skills, and have low education and experience in climate change adaptation. The study also proposes some solutions to improve the capacity to adapt to climate change of vulnerable communes specifically: 1) creating diversified livelihoods with stable incomes; 2) deploying community-based climate change adaptation models for communes adjacent to rivers; 3) implementing adaptive agriculture and improving social capital for vulnerable households; 4) building resettlement areas for households heavily affected by disasters; and 5) raising awareness among low-income households to respond to natural hazards in the context of climate change.

A Socio-Ecological Approach to Understanding How Land Use Challenges Human-Elephant Coexistence in Northern Tanzania

A globally rapid land use/land cover change (LULC) in human-transformed landscapes alters the interface of human-wildlife interactions due to shifting socio-ecological and environmental pressures. Understanding these shifts is crucial for mitigating repeated negative interactions that escalate conflict states between people and wildlife. This study aimed to understand LULC changes over 30 years (1989–2019), with more recent spatio-temporal patterns of high pressure at the human-elephant interface, and potentially underlying environmental and human-driven factors that affect elephant movement patterns. We analyzed a dataset of 923 human-elephant conflict occurrences, mainly crop foraging incidents, in the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (EWMA) between the years 2016 and 2020 and combined these data with LULC for year 2019 to understand potential drivers of conflict and assess how agricultural land and settlement have increased over time. We further used GPS datasets of elephants collared between 2019 to 2020 to understand elephant movement patterns in changing land use types. Landsat image analysis revealed that 41% of the area had been converted into farmlands and settlements within the last three decades, which creates elephant-intolerant habitats and the potential to increase pressure at the human-elephant interface. Collared elephants using EWMA moved through all land use types and did not avoid settlements, although they moved through these at higher speeds, reflecting perception of risk. Elephants travelled slightly more slowly in farmland, likely reflecting the availability of foraging opportunities. Our analysis shows that human-induced LULC changes and the encroachment into elephant habitats have resulted in spatially and temporally predictable increases in HEC in EWMA, driven by the proximity of farmlands and protected areas (PAs), so that incompatible land uses are the principal drivers of damage to human livelihoods and increased risks to Tanzanian (and Kenyan) natural capital. Communities in Enduimet urgently need support to increase the effective distance between their farming activities and the PAs. Village-level crop protection and small-scale land-use planning around PAs are important first steps to halt an escalating conflict situation but need to be supported with longer-range strategies that separate incompatible land-use types and encourage the cultivation of alternative crops and livelihood diversification.

Forests, Fields, and Pastures: Unequal Access to Brazil Nuts and Livelihood Strategies in an Extractive Reserve, Brazilian Amazon

This article examines access to an economically important forest product (Brazil nuts) and its relationship with livelihood strategies in the Cazumbá–Iracema Extractive Reserve (CIER), Acre, Brazil. The objective is twofold: (i) to clarify how social mechanisms regulating access to Brazil nuts operate and (ii) to analyse the relationship between differential access to Brazil nuts and livelihood diversification in terms of cash income. For this, we conducted 55 semi-structured interviews with household heads in three rubber tapper (seringueiro) communities. Our findings indicate that Brazil nuts are important to seringueiro livelihoods, although both access to Brazil nuts and livelihood strategies are highly variable between households and communities. Limited access to Brazil nuts is partly overcome through informal arrangements and investment in wage labour, swidden agriculture, and cattle raising, as part of highly diversified livelihood portfolios. However, restrictions to agriculture and cattle raising generate considerable tensions between many seringueiros and environmental managers. We highlight the importance of viewing livelihood diversification and adaptability as important components of the long-term viability of the extractive reserve model, particularly in the context of the growing uncertainties and risks associated with accelerating climate and socio-environmental change as well as amidst ongoing political dynamics in Brazil.

“Ocean Optimism” and Resilience: Learning From Women’s Responses to Disruptions Caused by COVID-19 to Small-Scale Fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea

This study examines the response of women to disruptions caused by COVID-19 in small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG). It interrogates the concept of resilience and its potential for mitigating women’s vulnerability in times of adversity. We define resilience as the ability to thrive amidst shocks, stresses, and unforeseen disruptions. Drawing on a focus group discussion, in-depth interviews with key informants from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, and a literature review, we highlight how COVID-19 disruptions on seafood demand, distribution, labour and production acutely affected women and heightened their pre-existing vulnerabilities. Women responded by deploying both negative and positive coping strategies. We argue that the concept of resilience often romanticises women navigating adversity as having ‘supernatural’ abilities to endure disruptions and takes attention away from the sources of their adversity and from the governments’ concomitant failures to address them. Our analysis shows reasons for “ocean optimism” while also cautioning against simplistic resilience assessments when discussing the hidden dangers of select coping strategies, including the adoption of digital solutions and livelihood diversification, which are often constructed along highly gendered lines with unevenly distributed benefits.

Livelihood Pattern of Riverine Areas of Dibrugarh District and its Prospects of Livelihood Diversification

Background: Diversification is a continuous adaptive process whereby household add new ctivities maintain existing one or drop others, thereby maintaining diverse and changing make greater contribution to general livelihood portfolios. Livelihood in rural areas is very erratic and risk hidden. The land-based livelihood of small and marginal farmers is becoming unsustainable in recent times due to continuous flood and decrease in availability of arable land. Diversification activities make greater contribution ta key strategy by which people try to improve the generate cash incomes for poor households and it is a key strategy by which people try to improve their wellbeing. Methods: Based on the primary and secondary data, Barbarua Development Block is finally selected for the study. In the block itself three nos Missing community dominated villages and three nos Scheduled Caste dominated villages are selected for the study. Through random sampling, 10 households of each diverse socio economic background are selected from each village. Semi structured schedules are prepared for interviewing the villagers, local village head (Gaon Burah), school teacher, unemployed youth, agricultural labour, landless people and women. Result: As the entire survey area is inundated by flood water in every year, a part from farm activities various income generating activities carried out under livelihood diversification. Some households end upon multiple activities. A common pattern is for every poor and the comprehensive well-off households to have most diverse livelihood. Farm income accounts for 54.0 per cent of the total household income coming from off farm activities. It is also revealed that 44 per cent households prefer livelihood diversification due to limited agricultural income. About 22 per cent reported that the availability of non-farm activities encouraged them to adopt non farm activities. Managing livelihood has always been a critical factor or challenge among the poor in everywhere.