Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Livelihood diversification in drought prone rural Botswana

Auteur : Hassan, Zien-Elabdin E.

Université de soutenance : Göttingen, Univ., Diss., 2002

Résumé
In 1999, a household survey was carried out in the village of Molalatau, eastern Botswana, to examine the patterns and determinants of smallholder household livelihood diversification strategies. It was found that households derive income from 5-6 sources. The average household relies for 71% on non-farm income. Agriculture is not the main source of income or food. The degree of livelihood diversification depends largely on the availability of livelihood assets. Female-headed households are disadvantaged compared with men and male-headed households. Female-headed households have fewer adults, more dependents, smaller plots of land and smaller herds of livestock. As a result, female-headed households account for about 66% of the poorest households in the area. Urban-to-rural remittances are best explained in terms of mutual co-insurance. The level of remittances falls when public transfers by social security programmes increase. The government should be careful not to create a culture of dependence among its rural poor, thereby eroding the values of self-help and self-reliance

Mots Clés  : households | survival | poverty | nonfarm income | farm income | diversification | social groups | women

Présentation (CABI)