Non-agricultural Activities Research Articles

Social Media Usage and Social Capital as Determinants of Oil Palm Integration Practices Among Smallholders in East Malaysia

Social media plays an increasingly important role in expanding social networks, which may influence the development of social capital among rural communities. This study investigates the relationship between social capital, social media usage, and the adoption of integration practices among oil palm smallholders in East Malaysia. A survey of 194 smallholders revealed that those with higher education levels had significantly higher bonding social capital (p < 0.05). Additionally, smallholders who had used WhatsApp for five years or more exhibited significantly higher levels of both bonding and bridging social capital (p < 0.05). The study found a significant association between bridging social capital and integration practices, particularly non-agricultural activities, but no significant link with bonding social capital. Logistic regression showed that smallholders with higher bridging social capital were more likely to engage in non-agricultural integration practices (OR = 5.64, 95% CI = 2.30–13.83, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that targeted efforts to enhance social media literacy could strengthen social capital and diversify the economic activities of smallholders. Expanding future research to cover a broader geographical area with varying internet accessibility is recommended.

The Impact of Non-Agricultural Activities on Poverty Reduction in Rural Communities: A Case of Sumbawanga Rural District, Tanzania

Agriculture is central to Tanzania's rural economy, but its underperformance drives many households in Sumbawanga Rural District to seek non-farm activities to combat poverty. This study investigates the impact of such activities on poverty reduction. It identifies drivers pushing farmers towards non-agricultural work, like low farm earnings and land scarcity, and explores how these activities affect household income. Data from 195 farming households reveals non-farm activities contribute significantly to income, ranging from 43% to 50%. Despite Tanzania's decreasing poverty rate (25.7%) in 2020, around 26 million still live in extreme poverty. The study suggests promoting non-agricultural endeavours like carpentry and animal husbandry to diversify income sources and alleviate poverty. Overall, it highlights the importance of non-farm activities in rural prosperity and recommends their integration into poverty reduction strategies.

From the state’s development promise to the uncertain lives of farmers in eastern Thailand

This research paper aims to examine the state's development promise in relation to the Eastern Economic Corridor development (EEC) project and its impact on people's livelihoods. The study utilized a qualitative approach and ethnographic research to collect data on the operation of the EEC project and its impact on people's livelihoods. The key informants, who were actively involved in the movement for farm safety, were 25 farmers from a farmers network in Kabinburi district, Prachinburi province, and Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The study found that the EEC project has been a crucial development undertaking in Thailand since 2017. The Thai state has promised that the EEC project will provide a better future for the people, stating that the operation of the project will focus on investing in infrastructure, providing investment privileges, eliminating investment barriers, and establishing a centralized authority. However, the local people's experiences with the EEC project demonstrate the formation of unequal power relations that have led to an uneven distribution of the project's benefits. Although local communities are hopeful that the EEC project will provide access to new markets, they still fear the uncertainty of their lives due to various state mechanisms established in the project, which prevent them from participating in the local decision-making process. Some local farmers have experienced an expansion of factories and waste disposal plants, causing fear of pollution on farms, and other non-agricultural land use activities in the EEC backyard, or peripheral areas of the EEC project.

Effects of Stone Mining on Household Livelihoods in Londiani Sub-County

Globally, rural areas are dominated by households earning less than a dollar per day and engaging in subsistence agriculture to meet their basic needs. In Kenya, governments and non-governmental organizations have taken measures to promote agricultural activities and non-agricultural activities to alleviate poverty in rural areas. One of such none agricultural activity in Kenya is stone mining. Stone mining is an alternative source of livelihood for most rural households. The objective of the study was to establishment the effects of stone mining on household livelihoods in the Londiani, Sub-County. Primary data was collected by use of structured household questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews. Descriptive statistics was used during data analysis where percentages were computed and tabulated. The study revealed that: stone quarry activities have adverse effects on residents of Londiani sub-County, notably: respiratory diseases, chest and skin infections, eye problems, rashes, and body injuries. Stone mining has numerous benefits to the miners' livelihoods. The money generated from stone mining is used to pay school fees, purchase food for the family, clothing, and health services and even build shelter for the family. The study recommends for an audit of the number of households directly involved in quarrying activities with a view to extending credit facilities to boost mining sector. The findings are significant to policymakers in the county government of Kericho, and national governments in formulating policies aimed at streamlining informal sectors into mainstream economic activities

Shifting Sands: Analyzing the Evolving Rural Occupational Landscape of Ajmer District, Rajasthan

This study investigates the rural occupational structure of Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The research looks into the distribution of labour within several areas, including agriculture, industry, and services. From the use of secondary data from the 2011 India census, the predominance of agriculture in the rural economy is revealed while acknowledging swings toward non-agricultural activities which is mainly influenced by urbanization and government interventions. The workforce clearly split by gender, with males working in jobs that pay more and women mostly hired for lower-paying positions. This study provides information about the socioeconomic background of the Ajmer district, showing the need for policy makers to step in and encourage rural growth. The results clearly make a way to understand rural livelihoods and the policy makers can easily utilise these for a better rural transformation.

The Dynamics of Microenterprises: Implications on Poverty Reduction in Nepal

Microenterprises are very small formal and informal non-agricultural activities operated by individuals or micro-organizations encounter different challenges due to changes in resources, market, technologies, know-how, and so on. To survive in such complex and changing entrepreneurial environment, microenterprises need be capable of coping with dynamics of resources, market, technologies, and know-how meanwhile fighting against the poverty they are muddling through. In this context, using primary data enumerated from 160 microentrepreneurs from control and experimental local environments from Parbat and Kaski districts in the Gandaki province of Nepal, this study has analyzed the microenterprises taking dynamics of technologies, resources, market and know-how for their implication to poverty alleviation. On average, there is an increase environment conducive to microenterprise operation. Despite the products, technologies, and know-how being basically outdated, the dynamics of resources, market, and know-how appear having significant positive effects on microenterprises. There is an improvement in employment status, economic status, access to education, access to health services, access in communication, household assets, the capacity to spend more on celebrating socio-cultural festivals and livelihood of the family members over the period after being involved in microenterprises, hence, microenterprise dynamics have confirmed significant positive implications in poverty reduction in Nepal. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 11, Issue-3: 43-57.

From green fields to housing societies: Unraveling the mysteries behind agricultural land conversion in Pakistan

Agrarian land is being converted into a non-agricultural sector, which is a matter of significant concern. This study aims to determine the factors responsible for the agrarian land conversion to the non-agricultural sector in Pakistan. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected for analysis. Quantitative data were collected from 608 farmers through a questionnaire survey, while qualitative data by in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study uses a logistic regression model and thematic analysis to determine the factors responsible for land conversion. Results show that farmers’ education, total landholding, urbanization, and the provision of government facilities positively influence land conversion. The ratio of irrigated land and production per acre were negatively associated with such land conversion. The qualitative data identified the push factors such as the social network of farmers, institutional and economic, while the pull factors included commercial opportunities, industrialization, and future expectations. Farmers should be assisted in diversifying their farm operations to generate multiple income streams, reducing the financial pressure that might lead to their selling land. Strict policies are also necessary to control the conversion of agrarian land into use for non-agricultural activities.

Investigating linkage to care following community-based screening for hepatitis B virus in rural Senegal: A mixed methods study.

This paper investigates linkage to care following community-based screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in rural Senegal. HBV-positive participants who completed a biological and clinical examination to assess liver disease and treatment eligibility were referred to a regional hospital (if eligible for treatment), invited to join the Sen-B research cohort study (adults with detectable viral load) or referred to their local health centre (all others). Logistic regressions were conducted to investigate factors associated with (i) uptake of the scheduled post-screening examination, and (ii) HBV management initiation. Obstacles to HBV management were identified using thematic analysis of in-depth patient interviews. Of the 206 HBV-positive participants, 163 (79.1%) underwent the examination; 47 of the 163 (28.8%) initiated HBV management. Women, people not migrating for >6 months/year, individuals living in households with more agricultural and monetary resources, with other HBV-positive participants, and beneficiaries of the national cash transfer program, were all more likely to undergo the examination. The likelihood of joining the Sen-B cohort increased with household monetary resources, but decreased with agricultural resources. Initiation of HBV management in local health centre was higher among participants with a non-agricultural economic activity. Individuals reported wariness and confusion about HBV management content and rationale at various stages of the care continuum, in particular with respect to venous blood sampling and management without treatment. In conclusion, HBV community-based test-and-treat strategies are feasible, but early loss to follow-up must be addressed through simplified, affordable management and community support and sensitization.

Transformation of Agriculture in Damoh District of Madhya Pradesh

India has been considered as a land of villages and from very beginning agriculture has been main means of livelihood of the residents of the country specially people living in rural areas. Agriculture plays a vital role in the nation's economy. About two third of the working population earn their living through agriculture and agriculture sector contributes about 26 per cent in the gross domestic production of the country. The present study examines the transformation of the various dimension of the agriculture in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh based on secondary data. With the growing pressure of population, demand for land for non-agricultural activities, implementations of rural development programmes and activities, the land use pattern, cropping pattern, irrigational facilities, farming techniques and other allied activities in the study area has transformed during the period 1990 to 2020. Damoh district is located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and is part of Sagar division. Total geographical area of the district is 7306 sq.km. out of which 323386 hectares land is available for cultivation with 293599 hectares of irrigated land. The proportion of forest and fallow land has decreased in last two decades while the proportion of net shown area, other uncultivated land, land not available for agriculture and double cropped area has increased during the period. The cropping pattern of the study region, also transformed. The use of modern agricultural implements, fertilizers and pesticides too has increased during 1990-2020.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ЕДИНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ КООПЕРАЦИИ

The article reveals the essence, principles, and features of the adopted federal laws on cooperation. Based on the analysis of revenue from the sale of goods, works and services from non-agricultural activities of agricultural consumer and production cooperatives in the federal districts and Russia as a whole, trends and the need for changes in legislation on cooperation are highlighted, measures are proposed to form a unified cooperation system that will eliminate obstacles to cooperation of various forms of management in rural areas.

Impact of climate change on food security of smallholder farmers in Shashogo district, central Ethiopia

Climate variability/climate change has become the biggest challenge to food security. Objective of this study is to determine the impact of climate change/variability on food security. The study utilized primary and secondary data sources obtained through household surveys. The result shows that rainfall in Belg varies greatly, suggesting that seasonal harvests in Belg are failing, leading to a decline in production levels in certain quantities and limited food availability. Rainfall in Kiremt fluctuates moderately, while annual rainfall has the lowest fluctuations. Crop prices increase every year in recently. This change in agricultural crop yields was due to climate change manifested in price volatility. Consumers have been adversely affected by an increase in crop prices. As reported FGD group that crop yields have been declining from year to year consequences of this are fluctuations in upcoming and late season rainfall, an unusual rise in temperature, flooding and the spread of the American warm, which the community to shift their livelihood to non-agricultural activities. Next to crop farming, raising livestock is one of the main sources of income for rural communities; nevertheless, the productivity and stocks of livestock may be impacted by climate change. Food stability is impacted not only by climate variability but also by increasingly frequent and intense extreme climate events that affect availability, access, and use. Stakeholders who would take steps to combat a loss of agricultural production in the Belg season were presented with the study’s results.

Development of the tourism function of rural areas of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship in 2010 and 2020

Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship is a characteristic region of Poland due to its natural conditions, which means that the economy is primarily agricultural and touristic. One of the main, innovative directions of non-agricultural activities supported in the rural areas of the region is rural tourism together, implemented as part of the smart specialisation "Water economy". Analysis of 19 selected indicators of tourism, tourism development and potential, as well as technical infrastructure and finances of communes, showed that in 2010 of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship, the level of development of the tourism function of the rural areas was characterised by an average value of the synthetic Hellwig measure (0.13) and showed strong spatial heterogeneity. In 2020, under conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, this measure decreased only slightly to a value of 0.11, primarily due to the continuation of the region's tourism development planned for the long term. The spatial arrangement of the development of the tourism function in the analysed years remained virtually unchanged. The highest values for the development of the tourism function, both in 2010 and in 2020, were recorded in municipalities located in the area of the Great Mazurian Lakes, Powiśle and the other lake districts of the region.

Indebtedness in India- A Region Wise Analysis Leveraging Machine Learning By IJISRT

The risk of indebtedness across region level is higher among the households having less human and physical assets and human resources. However, because of their better borrowing capacities, the extent of indebtedness among them is significantly higher than other segment of the rural society. The same is true about the households self-employed in various agricultural and non-agricultural activities in the rural areas. The region level analysis also rejects the contention that the higher consumptive expenditure of the rural people as a cause of their risk of indebtedness whereas the extent of indebtedness confirms that consumptive expenditure plays a major role in their indebtedness. Similarly, the hypothesis of agricultural prosperity and indebtedness going together lacks wider generalization for household located in all the regions except North-West states in Logistic regression and in North-Western, Eastern and Southern region in Tobit regression. Exposure of rural households to higher risk and uncertain situations like droughts, floods, crop failure due to pest attack pushes rural households deeper into debt.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DURABILITY OF OPERATIONS FINANCED UNDER THE CAP IN THE OPINION OF AGRICULTURAL ADVISORS

The durability of operations is an important category from the point of view of public policies, including the Common Agricultural policy (CAP). The main objective of the article is to identify and assess factors affecting the durability of CAP financial operations on the example of measure 4.1. “Modernization of farms” based on the opinions of experts – advisors of agricultural advisory centers (ODR). We used primary data from expert surveys amongst agricultural counsellors: CAWI technique was employed. Diversification of production at farm-level, employment outside the farm and running non-agricultural activities should be assessed as key internal factors having a beneficial impact on the durability of the investment. The significant internal factors that were considered to have a strongly unfavorable impact on the durability of investments projects are those related to the insufficient level of capital and land held. Specialization in milk production, then pig production had a beneficial effect on durability of operations. Strengthening the quality of human capital in rural areas, including farm management should be recommended. This includes strengthening their flexibility and resilience, for example through diversification.

Vietnamese farmers’ perception of climate change effects on water resources and determinants of climate change

ABSTRACT This study investigates crop farmers’ perception on climate change effects on water resources and factors that influence their perceptions of it in Vietnam. A sample of 253 was randomly selected from a total population of 685 crop farmers and a structured questionnaire was created to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The research results showed that climate change effects on water resources varied by landform. A majority of farmers perceived that: shifts in rainfall amount and variability affect the operation of runoff water and groundwater recharge; shifts in temperature level and variability considerably influence evapotranspiration; and changes in runoff amount and runoff variability greatly influence soil water storage and groundwater. Mixed cropping systems, use of soil conservation, extension contacts, farming practices, non-agricultural activities, credit programme participation, information and communication technology (ICT) owned, and education level are the important determinants of farmers’ perceptions on climate change.

EXPORTING ACTIVITY IN RURAL REGIONS: DOES IT DIFFER FROM URBAN REGIONS? EVIDENCE FROM POLAND

Limited export potential can impede growth prospects. While core regions serve as hubs of globalization, the question remains as to how rural regions can increase their exports. By identifying the factors that enhance the export competitiveness of rural regions, particularly in comparison to urban regions, we can steer them towards sustainable development and overcome constraints related to remoteness. However, there is no simple or shortcut way of increasing exports in rural regions. It still requires long-term investments, improvements in human capital, inflows of foreign-owned entities, and advantageous operations of special economic zones. Social capital has a positive impact on exports at the regional level, but its effect could not be acknowledged in the subsets of regions. What should rural regions prioritise? Investing in human capital and promoting non-agricultural economic activities that have a greater impact on rural exports than urban ones.

RELATIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES ON FARMS LOCATED IN THE KRAKOW METROPOLITAN AREA

The aim of the article is to assess the impact of non-agricultural activities conducted by a farmer on his agricultural activity. The subject of the research were various forms of economic activity developed on agricultural farms located in communes in the urbanized area of the Krakow Metropolitan Area. Field research was conducted in 2020-2022 among entrepreneurs and municipal councilors of randomly selected 21 territorial units. As a result of increasing urbanization and increasingly stronger suburbanization, contemporary transformations of urban spaces have changed the relationship between metropolitan cores and their surroundings. The transfer of metropolitan functions to the suburban zone is increasingly changing the conditions and possibilities of shaping spatial systems, including rural areas. Owners of farms located in the zones of direct influence of large cities attempt to de-agriculturalize their business or make efforts to diversify it. The relationship between agriculture and non-agricultural economic activity in entities operating in the metropolitan area is thought-provoking. The research results have shown that in most cases, non-agricultural activities have a destructive impact on the agricultural production of farms located in Krakow’s impact zones.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ РАЗВИТИЕМ СЕЛЬСКОГО ТУРИЗМА КАК ФАКТОР ПОВЫШЕНИЯ УРОВНЯ ЖИЗНИ МЕСТНОГО НАСЕЛЕНИЯ

The importance of rural tourism as one of the effective methods of integrated rural development, contributing to the organization of new jobs in non-agricultural activities is considered. A detailed mathematical and statistical analysis of a number of indicators was carried out to identify patterns in the socio-economic development of the Federation subjects rural territories under the influence of the rural tourism indicators growth.

Non-agricultural business activity as a source of income of farmers’ households in Poland

Non-agricultural business activity as a source of income of farmers’ households in Poland

EMPOWERING CITIZENS THROUGH DIGITAL INDIA:AN OVERVIEW

Digital India is a campaign launched by the Government of India to ensure that the Government's services are made available to citizens electronically through improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity or making the country digitally empowered in the field of technology. The initiative includes plans to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks. It consists of three core components: the development of secure and stable digital infrastructure, delivering government services digitally, and universal digital literacy. Launched on 1 July 2015, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India schemes, such as Bharat Net, Make in India, Startup India, Stand up India, industrial corridors, Bharat Mala and Sagar Mala. Digital India has 3 core components: - 1. Delivering Government Services Digitally 2. Universal Digital Literacy 3. Development of Secure and Stable Digital Infrastructure Digital technologies including mobile applications and cloud computing are considered as catalysts for rapid growth of a nation’s economy and empowering citizens across the globe. These technologies are used by us daily, from government offices to retail stores. They help us to share information on concerns or issues faced by us and connect us with each other. Technology giants from all over the world paid attention to the Digital India campaign and are readily and happily supporting the initiative. Even Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, had changed his profile picture to support Digital India. He started a trend on Facebook and promised to get the Wi-Fi Hotspots in rural India working. Google started on its commitment to providing broadband connectivity at 500 railway stations in India. Microsoft agreed on providing broadband connectivity to 5,00,000 villages in the country. Microsoft is also making India its cloud hub via the Indian data centres. Oracle planned on investing in 20 states to work on Smart City initiatives and Paymentech. A digitally connected India is aimed at the growth of the social and economic status of the masses in the country. The development of non-agricultural economic activities could pave the path for such an achievement, for providing access to financial services, health, and education. Information and Communication Technology alone cannot directly impact the overall development of a country. Basic digital infrastructure could help achieve overall development. Last but not the least, the paper also discusses the policies and initiatives of Digital India to empower the Citizens .