Livelihood Vulnerability Research Articles

Adaptive Garlic Farming on Climate Change and Variability in Lombok

Climate change impact in Indonesia is generally characterized by changes in daily temperature, rainfall patterns, and sea level rise. These changes mainly influence agricultural practices for various crops, including garlic (Alium sativum L.). Current knowledge on climate vulnerability related to agricultural impact in Indonesia is limited. This study aims to identify the level of vulnerability of garlic farmer households to climate change and provide recommendations for adaptation activities for garlic farmers. The household vulnerability profile was assessed using Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and LVI-IPCC approaches. We carried out interviews for 100 respondents in four villages in Lombok to obtain primary data related to agricultural practices. Relation between climate variables and garlic productivity was determined using linear regression approach. The results showed that rainfall and temperature had a negative correlation with garlic productivity as indicated statistical indicators used, namely R2. According to LVI and LVI-IPCC approach, Sembalun Timba Gading and Sajang have the highest level of vulnerability (0.60) and Sajang Village has the lowest level of vulnerability (0.55) among all villages. The findings suggested that climate information should be considered in agricultural sector for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Food security challenged by declining efficiencies of artisanal fishing fleets: A global country-level analysis

Global capture fisheries are a vital global food provisioning to help end hunger and malnutrition. To ensure that global seafood supply sustainably supports a growing population, many initiatives within the UN Sustainable-Development-Goals seek to balance management with efficient resource use. Here we examine changes for 150 countries that represent over 98% of global catch for the 1950–2014 period by analysing multiple fleet outputs relative to inputs (such as vessel power) using data envelopment analysis. We show that country specific technical efficiency has declined at rates of −3% yr−1 for artisanal and industrial fleets in 44 and 49 countries respectively. Recent global artisanal fleet (2010–2014 average) declines of −0.2%yr−1 show losses that translates to ∼71400t posing serious implications for sustainable food security and vulnerable livelihoods in the face of climate change.

Household livelihood vulnerability to mining in Zambia's Solwezi copper mining district

The mining sector contributes significantly to national and local economic development through employment, income generation, infrastructure development and the generation of foreign exchange. However, mining activities have adverse effects especially at local scale, with high potential to outweigh benefits if poorly managed. This study applied a livelihood vulnerability analytical framework to assess the household vulnerability of local communities in Zambia's Solwezi copper mining district. Two study areas were purposively selected based on proximity to mining activities. Assessment of the mining-related factors (sensitivities) that affect the local communities and their ability to respond in predictive or reactive ways (adaptive capabilities) is also included. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) results show that Central block was more vulnerable to the impact of mining in terms of human, natural, social, physical and financial capitals than St Francis block because of proximity to mining activities. Livelihood resources, such as agricultural land, forest and water, were affected by the degradation of the environment because of mining activities, making it difficult for households to achieve positive livelihood outcomes. This research contributes to understanding the household vulnerability of local communities impacted by mining. At the household level, the adoption of LVIs might have broader applications, such as vulnerability monitoring, development initiatives evaluation, and policy efficiency determination in the mining dominated landscapes.

Assessing poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fishing communities in the context of pollution of the Churni River, India.

The present study exhibits a critical outlook on the poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fisherman community in the context of persistent water pollution of the Churni River. The logistic regression model has identified eight factors influencing the poverty of the study area while the entropy weight method identifies the livelihood vulnerability of the fishermen. The livelihood vulnerability index of the upper stretch of the river is higher (0.65-0.67) compared to that of the lower stretch (0.46-0.57). The typical spatiality in poverty and livelihood vulnerability is triggered by the fragility of fishing livelihoods in the wake of lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), and higher BOD, COD, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate mainly due to industrial water pollution. For example, average DO ranges from 1.65mg/l (upper stretch) to 2.50mg/l (lower stretch) while the average BOD ranges from 5.44mg/l (lower stretch) to 9.42mg/l (upper stretch). This pollution induces acute ecological stress concerning declining fish diversity (from 41 to 16 fish species at the upper stretch and 41 to 23 fish species at the lower stretch during 1980-2018) as well as productivity of the existing fish species. Therefore, paralysed fishing economy and high dependency of the fishermen on the Churni River have forced them to revolve into the vicious cycle of poverty and enduring fragile livelihoods. Thus, the fishermen adopt few coping strategies like access to the nearby wetland for fishing, diversity in earning strategy and environmental movements against pollution to reduce the intensity of vulnerability. The present study would help the regional planners to frame the participatory plans for the sustainability of the riverine ecology and economy.

Embracing risky refuge: women, land laws and livelihood vulnerabilities in rural Kenya

There has been a growing interest in laws governing resources particularly land in reference to gender in Africa. Law reforms in relation to land have produced potentially useful regulations and espoused egalitarian land rights. However, the backdrop to these reforms contains a scene of land disputes, resistance to laws, violence against women and poor enforcement leading to injustices to women with a pervasive effect on families in vulnerable communities. Using focused ethnographic research methods, the writer investigated women's land rights between November 2015 and August 2016. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, review of archival records and observations were utilised. The study found that in contexts of prolonged livelihood vulnerabilities, as in the case of the Luo people of south-western Kenya, women seeking refuge from livelihood difficulties employ two strategies to anchor their security. They migrate from marital homes to fishing villages and also lay claim to marital land, which is held by men according to customary laws. These strategies produce social dilemmas and risky manoeuvering. Statutory land laws that are enacted to mitigate land related conflicts undermine the existing customary land laws that advantage men. Therefore, women's land claims, and statutory land laws that espouse equality in land ownership, destabilise men's sense of masculinity. By drawing on the experiences of women, I show the intersection between land laws, enduring injustices and gender relations in a context of strained livelihoods.

Climate Change Vulnerability of Marginal and Small Farmers in Nuapada District, Odisha

This study attempts to measure the level of livelihood vulnerability of farmers to climate change in Nuapada. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used based on primary and secondary data. The study found that marginal and small farmers in the study area have different differential livelihood vulnerability to climate change. The study has used composite approach in which seven dimensions including 34 indicators were studied. Composite of factors such as low level of education, lack of access to credit, lack of access to critical irrigation were associated with the relatively higher Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) values. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that seven socio-economic variables account for 44% of variation in livelihood vulnerability index; three variables among them viz. number of household income sources, landholding size and highest level of education in household were found to have significant impact on LVI. The findings of the study conclude that there is differential vulnerability to climate change in the same context which was mostly determined by various socioeconomic factors. Thus climate change related studies and policies (which mostly limit district as the measuring unit) must expand their scope to understand and act on differential vulnerabilities in the same district.

Mapping integrated vulnerability of coastal agricultural livelihood to climate change in Bangladesh: Implications for spatial adaptation planning

Understanding the spatial variation of agricultural livelihood vulnerability to climate change is crucial for developing adaptation strategies in the future, something that has only been seldom done so far in developing economies like Bangladesh. To this end, we developed an integrated vulnerability index (IVI) based on the IPCC framework for analyzing and mapping the vulnerability of agricultural livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh. The IVI was calculated as a function of three components: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. We used 45 indicators from nationally comparable and reliable datasets to conduct the research. Besides, a socio-economic livelihood vulnerability index (SELVI) was developed on the basis of sensitivity and adaptive capacity indicators and displayed in a scatter diagram in order to identify the socio-economically more vulnerable districts of coastal Bangladesh. A circumplex chart was used to disaggregate the normalized indices of sensitivity and adaptive capacity components, allowing the researcher to discover the factors that cause and mitigate the vulnerability. Using the IVI information, a vulnerability map was created that revealed that Patuakhali, Noakhali, Bhola, and Barguna districts in the exposed central coastal region were the topmost vulnerable districts, reflecting the fact that the agricultural livelihoods of 7.3 million people were highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The geographical diversity in salt intrusion, river-bank erosion, dependence ratio, crop yield, literacy, the density of physicians in the hospital, disaster-resistant houses, shelter facilities, and irrigated farming areas contributed to the diverse coastal agricultural livelihood vulnerability.

A Comparison of Vulnerability Risks and Conservation Perceptions between Mariculture, Fishery and Ecotourism Livelihood Groups in a Multi-Use MPA in Indonesia

Different livelihoods have different vulnerability risks and influences on the management of marine protected areas (MPAs). This research aimed to compare the seasonal, trend and shock livelihood vulnerability indicators (LVIs) of three dominant livelihood groups and the groups’ perceptions towards supporting MPA conservation efforts. The Anambas Archipelago MPA was selected as the study site. A total of 66 respondents from the three major groups were selected using stratified random sampling and interviewed using a questionnaire containing 14 LVIs. The responses were standardised and aggregated using functional relationships. The groups’ perceptions were determined using frequency distribution and thematic analyses (NVIVO 10). The LVI composite values showed that fishers were the most vulnerable (0.65), followed by fish farmers (0.62) and ecotourism operators (0.47). Fishers and fish farmers expressed high vulnerability due to their dependency on the coastal resources. The ecotourism operators had low vulnerability due to their lower dependency on natural resources, smaller impacts from seasonal weather, low involvement in resource conflicts and greater political support. The three groups supported the MPA regimes despite differences in their knowledge of the MPA restrictions on their livelihood practices. The study’s findings provide key alternative strategies to address the vulnerability risks of the three major groups and to increase their support for conservation goals in similar MPAs.

The Urban Poor and Livelihood Vulnerability: Are Gender, Age and Marriage Intertwined

Dhaka is the capital city and the single fastest growing metropolis in Bangladesh – by 2020 its population will have increased thirty-fold to over ten million. This rapid population growth is largely facilitated by mass rural-to-urban migration. The speed of urbanization and the enormous numbers involved make it one of the major development challenges of the 21st century (World Bank & Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, 1998). Neither public nor private facilities can meet the basic human needs (food, water, shelter, sanitation, and a safe environment) of slum dwellers, most of whom also lack livelihood security. To understand the magnitude of urban poverty, this research explores the question of whether gender, age and marital status are indeed linked to livelihood vulnerability among the urban poor. It has utilized qualitative methods of data collection -FGDs, case studies (based on in depth-interviews) and participant observation from a selected slum in Dhaka- Begultila. Results of this study has indicated that both physical and emotional vulnerabilities have a crucial impact on the livelihood pattern of the slum dwellers of Begultila. To understand the state and nature of poverty in Begultila it is important to consider non-economic factors, which have a very strong role in enhancing vulnerability among the urban poor, particularly with children, women, and the elderly. This study sheds new light on urban poverty in relation to livelihood vulnerability; and consequently, highlights the diverse experiences of the urban poor and the livelihood insecurity that automatically categorizes them as one of the most vulnerable groups within the slum community. This form of livelihood vulnerability has a crucial effect on the nature and quality of life of the urban poor, particularly for women, which in turn, perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
 Social Science Review, Vol. 37(2), Dec 2020 Page 217-237

Vulnerability Assessment of Local Population: A Case Study from Loktak Lakeshore Villages, Manipur

Top-down vulnerability assessment guided climate adaptation measures are relatively less effective in tackling community level challenges as local concerns are seldom integrated into the process. To adequately reflect local realities there is, therefore, a need to conduct vulnerability studies at a finer scale to incorporate local inputs into the assessment process. In recent times, indicator-based vulnerability assessment is increasingly employed as a viable approach to understand the susceptibility of the local population to climate hazards. The present paper presents the results of local level vulnerability assessment undertaken at three Lakeshore villages (Toubul, Khoijuman, and Kwasiphai) of Loktak Lake, Manipur, India. Two indices, Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and Climate Vulnerability Index (CVIIPCC), were utilized to examine, first, the sectors that produce differential livelihood vulnerabilities across the villages, and secondly, the overall susceptibility of the villages with respect to exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Primary data for the study was collected from purposively selected 150 households (N=150) from the three villages. Head of the family of each household was administered a structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on seven dimensions of vulnerability. Each dimension consists of variable number of indicators. Since the data on the indicators are measured in different scales they were standardised before composing the indices using equal weighting scheme. Based on the index values, the Toubul village (L VI 0.399, CVIIPCC -0.070) emerged as the most vulnerable village followed by Khoijuman (LVI 0.377, CVIIPCC -0.076) and Kwasiphai (LVI 0.377, CVIIPCC-0.109) according to both the indices. It is also found that in each village complex and interrelated climatic and non-climatic factors operate to impart characteristic vulnerability features to every village, understanding of which may hold significant policy values for future adaptive planning at the micro level.

Assessing the impact of climate change on crop yields in Gangetic Plains Region, India


 Against the increasing vulnerability of agriculture and farm livelihoods to climate change, the study attempted to analyse the trend in climate variables and their impact on major crop yields during the period from 1966-2011, across 4 agro-climatic zones forming Gangetic Plains Region. A rising trend was observed in annual and seasonal (kharif and rabi) mean maximum and minimum temperature across the zones. Rainfall on the other hand, showed a declining trend. Overall, climate change adversely impacted crop yield, but the magnitudes of such effects vary spatially. The results reveal that rice and wheat yield will decline in the entire Gangetic region. By 2050s, maize yield will be higher by 6 percent in Lower Gangetic Plains; pearl millet will increase by 15 percent and rapeseed & mustard by 3.8 percent in Trans-Gangetic Plains. Amongst the crops, sugarcane yield was the most impacted to climate change and is expected to reduce by 21 percent in Middle Gangetic Plains towards end of the century. Hence, there is a need to formulate sustainable adaptation measures and practices suitable to location-specific needs for enhancing climate resiliency and capacity of agricultural system to withstand climatic shocks.

Vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to climate variability and change in a tropical island: insights from small-scale fishers in Seychelles

While climate shocks and stressors are not unique to developing countries, their impacts are expected to be most acute here due to limitations in the assets and infrastructure required for adaptation. This study assesses the vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to the impacts of climate variability and change across two major islands in Seychelles based on 80 household surveys and three shared dialogue workshops (SDWs) with small-scale fishers. Results showed that the percentage of fishers’ households that depend mainly on fisheries as a source of income was 95% and 97% for Mahe and Praslin respectively with alternative income streams along the fishing value chain such as transportation, fish mongers and processor. Fishers on Mahe Island had a dependency ratio index that was slightly higher than those on Praslin. Overall, fishing households on Mahe showed greater vulnerability on socio-demographic profile index compared to their counterparts on Praslin. However, greater livelihood diversification was recorded for householders on Mahe than Praslin as fishers earned income from tourism-related activities such as guest house, car rental, boat ride, and sales of coconuts as mentioned during the SDWs. Fishers on Mahe struggled to find fish for 3 months during the southeast monsoon season compared to 2 months for those on Praslin given that access is granted to fish in the lagoon during this season. More importantly, the voluntary closure of some fishing zones between the months of November to April on Praslin is a sustainability strategy that witnessed an increase in size and number for both rabbit and parrotfish. Further studies are needed in two key areas as follows: the role of subsidies and sustainable fisheries management, and a value-chain approach to vulnerability of small-scale fishers within the fishery sector in Seychelles.

Study on Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies of Farmers in Areas Threatened by Different Disaster Types under Climate Change

The intensification of global climate change leads to frequent mountain torrents, landslides, debris flows and other disasters, which seriously threaten the safety of residents’ lives and property. However, few studies have compared and analyzed the livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies of farmers in different disaster-threatened areas under the background of climate change. Based on survey data of 327 households in the areas threatened by mountain floods, landslides and debris flow in Sichuan Province, this study analyzed the characteristics of livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies of households in the areas threatened by different disaster types and constructed multinomial logistic regression models to explore their correlations. The findings show that: (1) The livelihood vulnerability indices of farmers in different hazard types showed different characteristics. Among them, the livelihood vulnerability index of farmers in landslide-threatened zones is the highest, followed by the livelihood vulnerability index of farmers in debris-flow-threatened zones, and finally the livelihood vulnerability index of farmers in flash flood threat zones. At the same time, all three natural hazards show a trend of higher vulnerability in the sensitivity dimension than in the exposure and livelihood resilience dimensions. (2) The nonfarming livelihood strategy is the main livelihood strategy for farmers in different disaster-type-threatened areas. At the same time, the vulnerability of farmers choosing the nonfarming livelihood strategy is much higher than that of farmers choosing the part-time livelihood strategy and pure farming livelihood strategy, and the vulnerability of sensitivity dimension is higher than that of the exposure dimension and livelihood resilience dimension. (3) For farmers in landslide- and debris-flow-threatened areas, livelihood resilience is an important factor affecting their livelihood strategy. There was a positive correlation between livelihood resilience and farmers’ choice of pure agricultural livelihood strategies in these two natural-disaster-threatened areas. This study deepens our understanding of the characteristics and relationships of farmers’ livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies under different disaster types in the context of climate change, and then provides the reference basis for the formulation of livelihood-adaptive capacity promotion-related policy.

Livelihood strategies of two small-scale fisher communities: adaptation strategies under different fishery resource at southern and northern coast of Java

Small-scale fishers are frequently exposed to a variety of hazards that threaten their livelihood. Different socio-cultural, natural resource, environment conditions potentially create unique vulnerability and livelihood strategies which may exist in different places. Therefore, an investigation in two different fishing communities was carried out to understand the similarities and different of livelihood strategy works in both places. The study was conducted in two small scale fisheries community in village Betahlawang (north of java) and Glagah (south of Java). This research aims to describe livelihood aspects and strategies of fisher communities in both locations under different fishery resource and their dependency on the fishery through systematic surveys. The study showed that both communities are highly dependent on natural capital which mainly the abundance of the fishery resources. Others factors affecting both communities’ sustainable livelihood are the uncertainty in catch, weather and policy, limited capital ownership, access, and knowledge and skills other than fishing. Although the two study sites share some capital similarities, the livelihood vulnerability and their strategy is different. Betahlawang fishers more vulnerable than Glagah fishers because Glagah fishers has more diverse livelihood alternatives.

Perspectives on Energy Insecurity and Its Impacts on Urban Livelihoods: Adaptation and Resilience of Women in the Informal Sector

Variability in temperature and precipitation due to climate change is predicted to significantly impact on Southern African countries' resources. These variations have the potential to affect the energy sector due to a heavy reliance on hydropower for electricity in the region. Energy insecurity is largely felt in cities as they are large consumers of the resource. This negatively impacts on urban livelihoods reliant on electricity like those in the informal sector. A survey of electricity dependent home-based informal businesses operated by women was conducted, to generate information on the vulnerability of urban livelihoods to energy insecurity in Harare, Zimbabwe. Households across all socio-economic backgrounds performed informal businesses to supplement household income and were heavily depended on the irregular electricity supply. Women from poor households managing informal businesses were disproportionately affected by the unstable electricity supply, as they could not afford alternative energy sources to continue business operations during power cuts. This accentuated their low adaptive capacity and vulnerability to climate change induced stresses. This paper brings to light the importance of improving the resilience and adaptive capacity of urban livelihoods to climate change related challenges like energy insecurity, whilst exploring climate-resilient energy options to sufficiently mitigate against the impacts of climate change on energy security.

Understanding Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change: Evidence from Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the countries most heavily affected by climate change. The effects of climate change decrease the country's target of poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. Quang Ninh is a coastal province with vigorous development in industry and tourism and is the province with the leading Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) in Vietnam in recent years. However, for many years, Quang Ninh province has suffered negative impacts of climate change. The annual average temperature has been higher than usual, from 22.9 Celcius in 1980 up to 24.9 Celcius in 2019. The number of storms, floods, and tornadoes in the past ten years is more than 93 times, killing more than 87 people, housing damage is 21,231 houses, nearly 16,000 hectares of cultivated land have been affected. Quang Ninh's monetary loss in monetary terms over the past ten years is more than $261 billion US dollar. The article airms to understand livelihood vulnerability to climate change: evidence from Quang Ninh province, Vietnam in the past 10 years (2010-2019). The article based on the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) developed by Hahn et al. (2009) includes seven main components: household characteristics, livelihood strategy, social network, health, food and financial capital, water resources, natural disasters, and climate change. The research results show that the components of responding well to climate change are not acceptable. The study also shows that there should be different policies, strategists, and reduction components to improve capacity to respond to climate change to ensure sustainable development goals. Keywords: Climate Change, Livelihood Vulnerability, Capital Resources, Sustainable Development, Quang Ninh

A geographic identification of sustainable development obstacles and countermeasures in drylands: A case study in Inner Mongolia, China

Drylands cover about 41% of the Earth’s land surface and are inhabited by more than two billion people, who rely on the diversified ecosystem services provided by drylands for their livelihoods. Achieving sustainable livelihoods (SLs) is a key component of achieving the sustainable development goals set by the agenda in 2030. Although it has aroused extensive interest, research on SLs in drylands at a regional scale is still limited. This paper aims to address this research gap by evaluating SLs through a geographic gradient of aridity in Inner Mongolia. A sustainable livelihood index (SLI) was developed using a wide range of indicators in a sustainable livelihood framework (SLF). The weight of the indicators was determined by the entropy weight method, and the characteristics of the spatial distribution of the SLI were analyzed. The results showed that the SLI varies greatly across aridity zones. In terms of livelihood assets, the SLI in the dry sub-humid zone was 15% higher than in the arid zones, while, surprisingly, semi-arid zones were found to have the most vulnerable livelihoods (rather than the arid zones). The reason for this is that land management and planning approaches are necessary in drylands. In further detail, Moran’s I index illustrated that the overall performance of the SLI of each league or city has a positive spatial correlation, while through local spatial correlation it was found that Hinggan and Chifeng are hot spot areas and Hohhot is a cold spot area. The lack of physical and social capital is an important obstacle for SLs. Based on the analysis of SLs in Inner Mongolia, the characteristics of the sustainable development of local residents were revealed. In this paper, we call for an integrated (i.e., focusing on natural and human capital) land management and planning approach for drylands to reflect the nature of the tightly coupled socio-ecological systems.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Livelihoods of Rural Farmers in Uttar Pradesh, India

The Indian Government imposed a full lockdown in the country on March 24, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had considerable unforeseen consequences for farmers and affected their livelihood security.The present study attempts to assess the livelihood vulnerability to COVID-19 by using field survey data of two villages in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. An in-depth field survey was conducted to elicit the information of household’s perceptions of COVID-19. By using the multistage sampling technique, a total of 150 samples were collected from May 15 to 30, 2020. The study results highlight that households are highly exposed to novel coronavirus and are also equally sensitive to inadequate access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare system. Households undertook a range of preventive measures including health insurance, balanced diet, stored food items, consultation with doctors, and self-quarantine to contain the serious adverse impact of COVID-19. The calculated livelihood vulnerability scores show that the households in Virjapur village are relatively highly vulnerable than those of other villages. Based on the evidence collected at the grassroots level, the present study suggests launching basic-level awareness programme (ex-ante preventive measures) in the regional languages, increasing public health budget to meet the demand and improving the supply chain, establishment of more physical and human infrastructure in the long run and developing a comprehensive plan to ensure continuous water supply in the rural areas.

Vulnerabilite des moyens d'existence des menages ruraux au changement climatique: analyse comparative des territoires montagneux et littoraux des zones arides tunisiennes

This paper presents a livelihood vulnerability assessment and compares the levels of exposure, sensitivity and adaptation to climate change of the local populations in mountains area and coastal plains in Tunisian arid regions. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change vulnerability index (LVI-IPCC) has been adapted and applied to assess this livelihood vulnerability, based on socio-economic surveys and semi-structured interviews with the local populations. Findings show that households in coastal plains are more vulnerable in terms of socio demographic profile, food security, social networks, access to water and climate variability. This territory is much more exposed to climate change, despite being slightly less sensitive. On the other hand, households in mountainous territory are more vulnerable in terms of livelihood strategies, land tenure and health, despite their adaptation capacity, which reduces their vulnerability to climate change. Based on this vulnerability assessment, this work suggests specific adaptation strategies and measures for livelihoods sustainability in each territory.

Falling price induced diversification strategies and rural inequality: Evidence of smallholder rubber farmers

• This study uses a panel data of smallholder rubber farmers in Upper Mekong Region. • Smallholders tend to adopt diversification strategy in response to rubber price declines. • More dependence on rubber results in lower livelihood diversification. • Diversification strategy contributes to improving income and reducing rural inequality. While the expansions of natural rubber in the greater Mekong region from the 1990s were ambitious, the persistently low commodity price of rubber from 2012 makes smallholder rubber farmers suffer from vulnerable livelihoods. This study sheds light on the adjustments in livelihood strategies of smallholder rubber farmers when the upsurge in rubber prices came to an end. Based on the two-wave panel data from some 600 smallholder rubber farmers in the upper Mekong region, Southern Yunnan province of China, this study shows the diversification strategies of smallholders in response to falling rubber prices and examines the impacts of livelihood diversification strategies on farmer income and rural inequality. The results suggest that smallholder rubber farmers tend to shift family labor from farms to off-farm employment and diversify their livelihoods in the context of declining rubber prices. Notably, farmers with relatively low dependence on rubber are more likely to diversify their livelihoods. The falling price induced diversification strategy makes smallholders more resilient against future risks and narrows the rural income gap. The findings of this study advance the literature by providing evidence on how farmers' livelihood strategy and rural inequality change in the face of periodical rubber price volatility.