Subsistence agriculture

About: Subsistence agriculture is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8069 publications have been published within this topic receiving 156876 citations. The topic is also known as: subsistence farming.

Systematic review of current efforts to quantify the impacts of climate change on undernutrition

Abstract: Malnutrition is a challenge to the health and productivity of populations and is viewed as one of the five largest adverse health impacts of climate change. Nonetheless, systematic evidence quantifying these impacts is currently limited. Our aim was to assess the scientific evidence base for the impact of climate change on childhood undernutrition (particularly stunting) in subsistence farmers in low- and middle-income countries. A systematic review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed and gray full-text documents in English with no limits for year of publication or study design. Fifteen manuscripts were reviewed. Few studies use primary data to investigate the proportion of stunting that can be attributed to climate/weather variability. Although scattered and limited, current evidence suggests a significant but variable link between weather variables, e.g., rainfall, extreme weather events (floods/droughts), seasonality, and temperature, and childhood stunting at the household level (12 of 15 studies, 80%). In addition, we note that agricultural, socioeconomic, and demographic factors at the household and individual levels also play substantial roles in mediating the nutritional impacts. Comparable interdisciplinary studies based on primary data at a household level are urgently required to guide effective adaptation, particularly for rural subsistence farmers. Systemization of data collection at the global level is indispensable and urgent. We need to assimilate data from long-term, high-quality agricultural, environmental, socioeconomic, health, and demographic surveillance systems and develop robust statistical methods to establish and validate causal links, quantify impacts, and make reliable predictions that can guide evidence-based health interventions in the future.

Subsistence Crises, Managerial Corruption and Labour Protests in China

Abstract: Large-scale labour protests are not new to the PRC. At several important junctures since 1949, such as the Hundred Flowers Campaign, the Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen protests of 1989, Chinese workers took to the streets and made their voices heard.1 These previous actions were all associated, however, with larger political crises that had also engulfed other social groups seeking to redress grievances. The incidence of separate labour protests was low. In the mid-1990s, however, labour protests were increasing by quantum leaps. An official estimate, which could be conservative, indicates that in 1995 labourrelated demonstrations involved more than 1.1 million people in more than 30 cities.2 In 1998 such demonstrations reportedly had leaped to 3.6 million workers.3 The Chinese government, not surprisingly, has identified labour problems as a serious threat to social and political stability.

Farmers' participation in soil and water conservation activities in the Chemoga Watershed, Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

Abstract: Soil erosion by water constitutes a threat to the maintenance of the subsistence living of the Ethiopian rural population. Past efforts at Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) did not bring about significant results, mainly because of the top-down approach pursued. Uprooting this past oversight and instating a participatory approach has since then been strongly recommended as the correct strategy. This paper analyses the extent of farmers' participation in current SWC activities in the Chemoga watershed, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State. Formal household survey, informal and focus group discussions and field observation were used to generate the data. The results indicate that the majority of the farmers participated in the SWC against their will. The most important factor discouraging them from participating freely was the perceived ineffectiveness of the structures under construction. Awareness about soil erosion as a problem, labour shortage and land tenure insecurity were found to be less important in providing an explanation for the disinterest shown by most of the farmers towards the SWC activities. Therefore, the important factors that need immediate consideration for SWC efforts in the study area or the region at large are: (1) SWC structures have to be carefully designed and constructed taking into account ground realities, and (2) participation of the farmers has to be through their own conviction regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the technologies. Alternative SWC technologies will have to be considered in this regard. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Forest products and household economy: a case study from Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern India

Abstract: Traditional communities living at forest margins use forest resources in various ways. Understanding the resource-use patterns of such communities provides a basis for seeking the participation of such communities in forest conservation. The present study undertaken in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining Sigur Plateau in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, addressed the importance of forests in the household economy of indigenous communities. Its main objective was to quantify the forest dependence of local people, and assess to what extent restrictive biodiversity conservation strategies would affect their livelihoods. These questions help in understanding the stake of the people in forest conservation strategies. Economic activities of the households were investigated in eight selected villages, four of which (proximal villages) had access to reserve forest areas where collection of forest products was allowed and were also located close to markets that provided opportunities to sell forest products. The remaining four villages (distal villages) were close to the Wildlife Sanctuary where the collection of forest products was not allowed and there was no access to organized markets. A total of 132 households were surveyed. The households both in proximal and distal villages were classified into three distinct income groups namely ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’, based on their gross annual income. Use of forest resources in Mudumalai was found to be influenced by multiple factors. In terms of livelihood of the traditional communities, livestock rearing and collection of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) were very important, the latter both for cash income and subsistence use. Peripheral communities used the forest resources in a varied fashion, with NWFPs contributing differently to different income groups. Where there was no restriction on forest use, higher income groups used the resources more heavily than lower income groups, and hence would suffer most from any restriction on forest use. People's reliance on forests evidently declined with increased level both of education and of opportunities in non-forestry vocations. Forests were still very important to the household economy of the local people both in terms of food security and cash income.

Impact of community forestry policy on rural livelihoods and food security in Nepal.

Abstract: This article analyzes the socioeconomic impact of community forestry policy implementation in the Middle Hills region of Nepal. It draws attention to a need to reconsider the approach to community forestry in the light of its socioeconomic objectives. Drawing on various reports and observations it shows that some households have less access to forest products for subsistence use and income than they had before the community forestry intervention. This is especially true among poorer households in which prior to the interventions many poor households earned money by selling fuelwood in nearby markets. In addition it indicates that the few income-generating activities that involve the poor and women have had little impact. Thus there is a need to reconsider the approach to community forestry with a further emphasis on socioeconomic objectives. Field projects should provide support to District Forest Offices and guidance in systematic planning and monitoring of socioeconomic development activities. Finally there is a need for a more balanced approach to community forestry policy intervention which considers both the demand for forest products at the household subsistence level and the demand of forest-based industries.