Small Landowners Research Articles

Unveiling patterns and drivers of agricultural diversification: empirical findings from farm households in Kaithal district of Haryana in India

PurposeThis study aims to examine the patterns of and factors influencing agricultural diversification among farmers in the Kaithal district of Haryana, India.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analysed the data collected from a sample of 400 agricultural households from five blocks of Kaithal, Haryana. Agricultural diversification is measured through the Herfindahl Index. Determinants of agricultural diversification have been evaluated using the two-stage least square method.FindingsThe average value of the diversification index among farmers in Kaithal is 0.51, indicating that there is room for diversification. In the study area wheat and rice are the dominant crops, while vegetables emerge as the most common non-staple crop. Regression analysis indicates that farmers of Scheduled Caste (SC) are more inclined to diversify crops. Factors such as larger land ownership, utilization of tractors, government subsidies, education and loans positively impact agricultural diversification. The availability of irrigation facilities, and employing labour negatively influence it.Social implicationsFocus on SC within the diversification policies for equitable access to resources. Special programmes aimed at educating small landowners and casual labourers about diversified crops. Implementing an “Uberisation” model for tractors, providing subsidies on seeds and equipment, customized financing programmes tailored to the needs of small-scale farmers can contribute to boosting agricultural diversification.Originality/valueThis study contributes by providing insights into the farm-level determinants of agricultural diversification in Kaithal district, Haryana. It adds to the understanding of factors influencing agricultural diversification in developing economies at the micro level.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2023-0963.

‘Diocletian oppressed the inhabitants of Paneas’ (ySheb. 9:2): A New Tetrarchic boundary stone from Abel Beth Maacah

ABSTRACT Excavators of tell Abel Beth Maacah in northern Israel uncovered a Tetrarchic boundary stone reused as a cover for a Mamluk-period grave. The inscription mentions a hitherto unknown imperial surveyor (censitor). It is suggested that this individual may have been a colleague of Aelius Statutus, the censitor recorded on the boundary stones of the province of Syria Phoenice. Additionally, the inscription reveals two new toponyms: ‘Tirthas’ and ‘Golgol’, which may correspond to preserved toponyms Kh. Turritha and Tell ʿAjul, respectively. These locations were last recorded by the Survey of Western Palestine (SWP). The paper places this discovery in the context of other boundary stones in the Paneas/Caesarea-Phillipi territory and attempts to explain their extraordinary concentration in light of Diocletianic tax reforms and rabbinic sources. The authors suggest that the territory was probably filled with fields and farms owned by small landholders who paid their taxes independently of the city, providing insight into the complex relationship between taxation, land ownership, and settlement history.

A Study on Socio-Economic Status of Cabbage Growers in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, India

Rural development is crucial for the development of the nation. Socio-economic status is dynamic in nature. Socio-economic status provides information on the association between certain factors and the livelihood of vegetables growers. In this study; an attempt had been made to understand the reality of cabbage growers. Krishnagiri was purposefully selected. Kelamangalam block was chosen for the study. The aim of the study was to collect data regarding the characteristics of sample farm households and categorize them into closely related sub groups. Total sample size used for this study was 120. Data was collected by a personal interview method. The personal variables, social variables, economic variables, farming related variables are taken into account to summarize the socio-economic status of cabbage farmers. Based on the data, Agriculture was the main occupation in the study area. Majority of sample farmers had moderate experience in farming. Most of sample farmers had smaller land holdings. Most of the farmers were found to be in the low income group.

Assessing Woody Species Diversity in Dembecha District, Northwestern Ethiopia: Agroecological and Landholding Perspectives

The cultivation of perennial woody species in Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape is recognized for its contributions to biodiversity conservation and soil fertility. This research aimed to assess the diversity of woody species in the agricultural landscape of Dembecha district, located in northwestern Ethiopia. Three kebeles, representing distinct agroecologies (highland, midland, and lowland), were selected for the study. A total of 30 households, with 10 randomly chosen from each agroecology, participated in the inventory of woody species. The height of the woody species was gauged using a clinometer, and the diameter at breast height (DBH) of species with a diameter exceeding 5cm was measured using a diameter tape. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21 was employed to compare means across the study kebeles and different landholding sizes. The inventory results revealed the presence of 45 woody species in the study area, with 25 species recorded in both the highland and midland areas, and 18 in the lowland areas. The assessment of species diversity, using the Shannon diversity index, showed significant variation across agroecologies, ranging from 1.1 in the lowland to 2.00 in the midland (p<0.05). Similarly, species diversity varied significantly among different landholding sizes, particularly between small landholding size (0.5-1.5ha) and medium (1.51-2.5ha) and large landholding size (>2.51ha) (p<0.05). The Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.2 for small landholding size to 1.72 for large landholding size. Notably, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Croton macrostachyus emerged as the most abundant species recorded in the study.

Exploring the Socio-economic Conditions of Potato Farmers in Farrukhabad District of Uttar Pradesh, India

This study investigates the socio-economic profile of potato growers in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, aiming to understand their demographic composition, educational background, caste distribution, marital status, family structure, landholding size, occupation, income levels, social participation, and possession of farming resources. A sample of 100 respondents cultivating potatoes as the main crop was selected from Kamalganj block, Farrukhabad district. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-structured schedule and analyzed using percentages. The results reveal that the majority of respondents are middle-aged, literate, and belong to scheduled castes. Most respondents are married and come from joint families with medium-sized households. Marginal and small landholdings dominate, and agriculture is the primary occupation, supplemented by subsidiary activities such as dairying and business. Income levels vary, with a significant proportion falling within the medium-income bracket. Social participation is moderate, with most respondents engaging in multiple organizations. Farm resources such as farm power and implements are moderately possessed. Extension services and information sources play a crucial role, with most respondents exhibiting moderate contact. This study provides valuable insights into the socio-economic landscape influencing agricultural practices among potato growers, which can inform policy formulation and extension activities aimed at fostering agricultural development and rural prosperity.

Socio-psychological Paradigms and Economic Metrics of the Beneficiary Farmers of Centrally Sponsored Agricultural Schemes: A Comprehensive Evaluation of PKVY, PMKSY and SHC in Maharashtra

The present study focused on assessing the socio-psychological constructs and economic variables of beneficiaries of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC). An ex post facto research design was employed in the present study. Amravati and Buldhana districts in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra was selected for the study. For the proposed study 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Amravati districts and 60 beneficiary farmers were selected from Buldhana districts for each scheme. Thus, for the three schemes, a total of 360 beneficiary farmers were selected from seven selected talukas of two districts of Vidarbha for three schemes. Majority of the middle aged respondents (61.11%) having secondary school level of education (39.44%) received low level of training (59.00%), but PKVY beneficiaries received high level of training (73.33%). Majority of the overall respondents had small land holdings (40.28%) with 1.01 to 1.50 ha. of irrigation potential (41.39%) having biseasonal cropping system (96.94%). Beneficiary farmers had sound financial background with 35.83 per cent of PKVY respondents with annual income in the range of Rs. 2,07,901 to 3,35,301/-, 56.67 per cent of PMKSY respondents in an annual income range of Rs. 2,86,962 to Rs. 4,77,753/-, and 40.83 per cent of SHC respondents in the range of Rs. 2,10,101 to 3,29,701/- annual income respectively. In overall beneficiaries of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes, 63.89 per cent of the respondents had medium level of social participation, source of information (65.00%), innovativeness (58.33%), economic motivation (47.50 %) and benefits accrued (43.06%). The study revealed lower participation of older farmers, indicating a need for targeted outreach and simplified training. Educated farmers benefited more, suggesting their role in promoting new technologies. Local information sources, like friends and relatives, were crucial, emphasizing the need for Gram Sabhas and exhibitions to improve awareness and participation.

Comparison of Yield and Cost Data of Cotton Crop Production During 2019 and 2020 in Baluchistan

The study was carried out through a primary as well as secondary data collection from several stakeholders to examine the average position of cotton production, average per acre cost of production, physical and income productivity, economic profit, input output ratio, problems and constraints, faced by cotton farmers and to recommend policy measures for maintainable cotton production and marketing in study area. Statistics examines were performed by retaining the descriptive figures as well as standard economic methods. A mixture of qualitative and measurable methodical procedures such as cost of production, market limits, regression analysis, cross tabulation analysis were carried out. The study was carry out in Lasbella, Sibi, Noshki, Turbat, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar districts in Balochistan. The data were gathered from 77 farmers of cotton growers and collected material was related to cotton production in Kharif 2019 and 2020. Majority of cotton growers were small land holders and age was 48.33 years. The average seed rate was 10.50kgs/acre and purchasing price was Rs.344.33/kg during 2019 & 2020 correspondingly. The budget of production was Rs.91762.50 and total revenue was Rs. 192297.5 per acre in 2020 respectively. The average profit/net income of cotton growers received was Rs. 100535 and Rs.95225.77 per acre in 2020 and 2019 respectively.

Socioeconomic Impact of Livestock Farming: A Case Study of Baitadi and Darchula Districts, Nepal

Dairy is the oldest staple food, along with fruits and vegetables, for humans. This study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing milk and dairy production in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Shailyashikhar municipality, and Dilasaini rural municipality, Nepal. Among the 5384 livestock farmers, 100 livestock farmers were randomly selected for the investigation. The findings demonstrated the existence of a subsistence agricultural system for livestock farming with small landholdings. There is a dominance of males over females in decision-making, and workload is common for females. There is a unique practice of management for milk produced during the first three weeks of lactation: 99% of people do not consume milk for 19.81±4.597 mean days; 96% of people do not sell milk; 53% do not sell ghee; 73% of parents refuse to give their kids cow's milk during the first three weeks of breastfeeding; and 16% do not consume ghee because of their tradition. There are various problems in livestock farming, i.e., feed management, low land holding, disease, cost of production, less government support, and lack credit. Feed management was ranked first, whereas lowland holding was ranked second. Worms are the most common disease causing organism seen in livestock in the study area because of the lack of access to improved and well-sanitized barns. Herbal plants are commonly used in disease management. Sociocultural factors directly affect livestock production. Different traditional beliefs, a lack of improved breeds, disease, and feed management have direct impacts on milk production. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 12(3): 166-179.

Factors affecting the adoption of farm mechanization in Rupandehi, Nepal

Agricultural mechanization is pivotal in farmer’s fields as it functions more efficiently and helps increase farm productivity. Despite the massive involvement of people in agriculture, farm productivity is relatively low. One main reason for this is the staggered implementation of farm mechanization. This paper aims to explore the factors affecting the adoption of farm mechanization using the Chi-square test and identify the major problems using relative frequency values. A total of 112 respondents, 28 each from 4 municipalities of Rupandehi district were interviewed based on stratified random sampling technique. The results showed that the adoption rates of various farm machinery were notably high, with tractors, cultivators, mills, and sprayers being universally employed by 93.75 % of the surveyed individuals. The government subsidies to only 7% of farmers facilitate machinery procurement. The size of the total cultivated land was found to be significant over the use of harvester, grass cutter, and power tiller, and owing of milling machine. The availability of subsidies and owning of mills were found inter dependent. The annual expenditures of farmers and their access to theCusto m Hiring Centre were found to be significant. Lastly, with index values of 0.402 and 0.393, the high costs of farm machinery and small land holdings were major problems in the adoption of farm mechanization. Therefore, addressing the high initial costs of modern farm equipment, providing targeted subsidies, innovative institution formation to provide better services to marginalized farmers, and expanding extension services are essential steps to promote the adoption of farm mechanization.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia: The Role of Geographical Indications

The Southeast Asian economies have been highly proactive in developing Geographical Indicators (GIs) within their jurisdictions. For instance, Thailand developed its “One Tambon One Product” (OTOP) project to support community co-operatives in tambons (sub-districts) and villages throughout Thailand. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. This followed Japan's One Village One Product (OVOP) program. This was followed by its “One Province, One GI” to encourage each of its 76 provinces and Bangkok to develop at least one GI product. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. Subsequently, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) established its One District One Product (ODOP) program. In addition, local communities throughout most of the eleven Southeast Asian Nations, often with the support of external development agencies, have protected their products using GIs or Trademark legislation. The number of domestic GIs registered within the eleven Southeast Asian nations as of April 2024 was Cambodia with seven, Indonesia with 127, Lao PDR with six, Malaysia with 79, Thailand with 194, and Vietnam with 94. These cover both agricultural and non-agricultural products, with the majority in each jurisdiction being the agricultural sector. This paper outlines the legislative framework of GI protection of products from the above jurisdictions and how the legislation has provided a framework for local entrepreneurs and communities to develop and protect local products, thus improving the quality of life of those local communities, whether as producers or providers of labour. Cambodia and Lao PDR have also followed a different path to registering GIs as they are parties to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Geneva Act, which provides a one-stop shop for registering GIs. Products protected by the relevant legislation include agricultural products, products derived from agricultural products, cooked food, handicrafts, and woven cloth, including associated designs and pottery methods and designs. Three examples are provided in detail: Kampot Pepper – Producers return to ancestral lands after 40 years of civil war and unrest; Bolaven Coffee – International development agencies support small landholders to form a co-operative to support the development of their community; and Mak Mao Berry Juice – One man’s 30-year passion to commercialise a local product.

Identification and Analysis of Constraints Faced by Organic Vegetable Growers

"Organic agriculture is a low-cost, sustainable farming method that contributes to increased food and financial security. The current study was carried out to investigate the various obstacles faced by organic vegetable growers in Himachal Pradesh. The sampled households were chosen using a multistage random sampling procedure. A total of 120 organic vegetable growers were comprising 56 marginal, 41 small, and 23 medium farmers. Garrett’s ranking technique was used to prioritise imminent constraints. Small land holdings, a higher incidence of pests and diseases, a decline in crop productivity, a lack of minimum support prices for organic products, non-availability of the marketplace, less erratic monsoon, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and the threat of wild animals were revealed as the most severe constraints faced by farmers in the study area."

Debt, land and labour: Cambodian migrant workers’ precarious livelihood strategies

This article examines how livelihood security is co-produced through multiple strategies in Southeast Asia’s agrarian transformation, by considering the case of Cambodian migrant workers, who cobble together their livelihood through a combination of land, labour and debt. These workers leverage small landholdings as collateral to take on debts to finance migration to Thailand, where low wages and insecure employment inhibit their ability to repay such debts. The traditional social welfare role of land as a safety net is superseded by the use of land as collateral to access microfinance loans, which are also commonly used to respond to livelihood shocks. In this financialised context, social protection schemes insufficiently address the combined livelihood risks that are assumed by workers and do not provide meaningful protection to workers. Drawing on field interviews, we argue that these various supposed sources of livelihood security rather act to increase precarity for workers, by exacerbating labour discipline and dependence on employers.

Spatial Analysis of Food Crop Diversification in Busia County-Kenya: Implications on Household Food Security

Food insecurity is a major problem in Busia County as studies show that 54 percent of households face food insufficiency and child malnutrition. This problem is compounded by small land holdings per household, with just 155,990 acres under food crops. Studies that have been done in the County to show the major food crops that are cultivated, however, no single one has been done showing the variations of these food crops within regions, while it is well known that diversity in terms of space has a bearing in food security at household level. This research sought to find out how food crops are diversified within space and its implications on household food security. Mixed design approach was used (descriptive and correlational). Nine research assistants were involved to collect data in the cropping season using interview schedules and observation schedules. Primary data was collected in one cropping season using interview and observation schedules. Gibbs and Martins Index of crop diversification was applied to determine crop diversification. Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) was used to determine food security status. Multi-stage mixed sampling techniques involving purposive, simple random stratified proportionate was used. Qualitative data was used to address research questions while quantitative data addressed the hypotheses. The results showed that there was a wide range of food crops grown in the County with cereals taking the largest portion while oils and miscellaneous crops had the lowest acreage. The study further revealed that Busia County had household food security index of 3.52 in the range of 1 to 6. It also found no statistically significant difference in regional diversification of food crops (p= .126). Finally, it revealed a very low negative correlation (r= -.080) with an insignificant relationship (p= .13) between crop diversification and household food security.

Agrochemical Spray Technology Adoption and Safety Awareness Assessment in Crop Protection in Vineyard Cultivation

A study was conducted in the Jalna district of Maharashtra to assess the adoption pattern of spray technology, and safety awareness among grape growers. The respondents were selected through random sampling and data was collected through a structured interview. The study revealed that among marginal landholders (< 1 ha) back-pack type sprayer was mostly in operation with an adoption level of 75%. In small landholders (1-2 ha), horizontal triplex pump (HTP) sprayers with an adoption level of 51.85% followed by tractor-operated air-blast sprayers (40.75%) were prevalent pesticide spraying technologies. More than 2/3rd (76.00%) of medium landholders (2-4 ha) had adopted tractor-operated air blast sprayers. For the application of plant growth regulators, 62.5% of small farmers, 81.8% of medium, and 100% of farmers had adopted electrostatic sprayers. The number of chemical sprays per season varied from 25 to 100, making grapes one of the major pesticide-consuming crops. Capacity, efficiency, cost, and availability of sprayers on a custom hiring basis were the four major factors affecting the adoption of spraying technologies.

The Regulation of Index-Based Agricultural Insurance Products as a Risk Management Tool for Small Holder Farmers in Cameroon

The regulation of index based agricultural insurance for small holder farmers in Cameroon are as a result of the risk they are exposed to like weather variability and related risks associated with their activities especially droughts, floods, pests and input costs and more importantly the limits of indemnity based agricultural insurance. Like any other poor and low income farmers with small land holdings their risk exposures can only be managed through good laws especially with the use of index insurance as a risk management tool. This article examines the CIMA Code as a regulatory instrument for agricultural insurance as far as small holder farmers are concerned. Book VII of the CIMA Code introduced microisurance in 2012 as a panacea to indemnity insurance which enabled the codification and development of index insurance by member states. The implementation of Index-based agricultural insurance faces considerable challenges that must be overcome to effectively service farmers in remote areas in a country like Cameroon. These challenges includes amongst others: regulatory insufficiency, limited historical rainfall and crop yield data, information on livestock mortality and limited infrastructures just to mention a few. It is recommended inter-alia that these aforementioned could be addressed through codification, infrastructural developments, inclusion of non-farming activities like banking and micro finance institutions amongst others.

What Happens When Payments End? Fostering Long-Term Behavior Change With Financial Incentives.

Financial incentives are widely used to get people to adopt desirable behaviors. Many small landholders in developing countries, for example, receive multiyear payments to engage in conservation behaviors, and the hope is that they will continue to engage in these behaviors after the program ends. Although effective in the short term, financial incentives rarely lead to long-term behavior change because program participants tend to revert to their initial behaviors soon after the payments stop. In this article, we propose that four psychological constructs can be leveraged to increase the long-term effectiveness of financial-incentive programs: motivation, habit formation, social norms, and recursive processes. We review successful and unsuccessful behavior-change initiatives involving financial incentives in several domains: public health, education, sustainability, and conservation. We make concrete recommendations on how to implement the four above-mentioned constructs in field settings. Finally, we identify unresolved issues that future research might want to address to advance knowledge, promote theory development, and understand the psychological mechanisms that can be used to improve the effectiveness of incentive programs in the real world.

Conceptualization and development of a semi-automatic vegetable transplanter prototype for small landholdings

The process of seedling transplantation has significant importance within the realm of mechanical vegetable production in contemporary agriculture. A prototype of a two-row tractor-mounted semi-automatic vegetable seedling transplanter (SVT) was conceptualized and developed for small agricultural holdings. The functional behaviour of the prototype was examined with computer-aided design tools, and the various units of the prototype have been finalized. To develop the prototype, the feeding, metering, transplanting, drive train, and soil compacting/covering unit of the machine were developed and constructed using materials readily accessible locally. The machine has a set row-to-row spacing of 600 mm, and it may alter the plant-to-plant spacing when the machine's forward speed changes. The pace was customized to achieve the required 450 mm plant-to-plant spacing. A 12:1 speed reduction gearbox was used for the proper metering of seedlings. The effect of independent factors, namely tray cell type, feeding mechanism, soil covering/compacting wheel angle, and age of seedling, on the machine's actual field capacity (AFC) was examined. The prototype underwent preliminary field testing to assess the functional viability, and the functioning was satisfactory. The main effect of the feeding mechanism and soil covering/compacting wheel angle on AFC was statistically significant at 5 % for tomato and brinjal whereas their first-order interaction was found statistically significant on AFC for tomatoes. The findings demonstrate that this study's prototype can be marketed or used to further vegetable production studies.

Mapping drivers of land conversion among smallholders: A global systems perspective

CONTEXTAgriculture-driven land conversion poses a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Balancing agricultural expansion with conservation is a critical challenge for governments and development partners. Sustainability-oriented agriculture programs such as conservation agriculture and land intensification aim to reduce land conversion and deforestation; however, evidence of their effectiveness remains complex and elusive, especially regarding the role of smallholders. OBJECTIVEThis study addresses this knowledge gap by systematically mapping the drivers of smallholder land conversion and their interconnections across three focal biodiverse contexts including sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia as well as from a global scale. METHODSUsing literature that focuses on the nexus of smallholder farmers and agricultural intensification, this study systematically identified the potential of distinct factors and dynamic processes to serve as system leverage points toward improved outcomes for biodiversity, food security, and smallholder livelihoods, using a combination of structural factor analysis, centrality analysis, and feedback loop analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe results highlight the importance of strengthening land tenure systems, providing technical support to farmers, improving market access, and prioritizing smallholder livelihoods in mitigating land conversion. SIGNIFICANCEContextual differences emphasize the need for context-specific interventions and further research to explore factors driving land conversion more deeply within specific contextual boundaries. Future studies should map proposed policy interventions onto local systems driving land conversion and incorporate the diverse perspectives of local stakeholders to guide effective and sustainable agriculture interventions.

Development and performance evaluation of an electric cabbage harvester with a precise cabbage pushing mechanism

The manual method of harvesting cabbages is common in many Asian countries, which creates a lot of biomechanical problems among farmers. The existing commercial cabbage harvesters being bigger in size are not suitable for small landholdings. To address this, a three-wheeled walk-behind type electric cabbage harvester with a precise cabbage pushing mechanism was developed. It comprised a cutting unit, pushing unit, conveying unit, propelling unit, storage bin and handle. Based on the results obtained from laboratory tests, the cutting speed, forward speed and cutting position of cabbage stem from cabbage head was chosen as 590 rpm, 0.25 m/s and 0.1 cm. For pushing the cut cabbages precisely, a YOLOv8 custom cabbage detection model (mean average precision of 0.938) was developed and deployed in Nvidia Jetson Nano that could detect the cabbages and actuated a pusher via Arduino microcontroller and motor driver to push the cut cabbages to the conveyor belt. In the power supply unit of the harvester, 48 V 12 Ah, 12 V 7 Ah, and 24 V 18 Ah batteries were used for powering the motors for cutting, pushing, and propelling and conveying, respectively. The harvester was tested in a polyhouse for three Indian cabbage varieties. The maximum instantaneous power consumption (IPC) was measured as 948.53 W. Hand vibration and noise at operators’ ear level were 2.098 m/s2 and 78 dB(A), respectively, which confirmed its safety from an ergonomic perspective. The harvester achieved a maximum cutting efficiency of 77.5 % and a minimum damage rate of 7.5 % during polyhouse testing.

Personal Earnings in Pakistan: Role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Livelihood Diversification

The determination of factors explaining personal earnings has remained a matter of great interest among economists. This study explores important socioeconomic and demographic factors affecting personal earnings in Pakistan with a special focus on the contribution of ICT usage and livelihood diversification. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models have been estimated using the most recent available PSLM (2019-20) data published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). After careful screening, the data has been restricted to only those individuals who earn either through farm, non-farm, or diversified livelihoods. The results suggest that the use of ICTs has a significant contribution to the earnings in Pakistan. Similarly, livelihood diversification i.e., participating in both farm and non-farm employment activities can greatly improve personal earnings. The non-farm sector also remarkably supports the agriculture-based Pakistan’s economy. Especially, the small landholders have to inevitably search for additional livelihood sources as risk coping strategy. Education is found one of the most important determinants of personal earnings. It is suggested that measures should be taken to improve access to ICTs and internet facilities at the national level with a special focus on the most backward areas. Moreover, the government may acknowledge and support the livelihood diversification strategies as a component of the national objective for job creation. Stringent efforts are recommended to ensure the provision of free and quality education for all with equal opportunities.