Are there options outside livestock economy? Diversification among households of northern Kenya

Abstract

Income diversification has been hailed by some policy-makers as an important ingredient for building pastoral resilience. This study applied the sustainable livelihood approach to establish the determinants of diversification among pastoral households of Turkana and Mandera Counties. In these Counties, 300 and 362 households, respectively, were identified through multi-stage sampling. A participatory wealth-ranking method was used to categorize the sampled households into three poverty levels: poor, middle and rich. The number of income sources, distance to water source, education level of household head, Tropical livestock units (TLUs) held, durable index (a measure of physical asset ownership) and age of the household head influenced the choice of livelihood strategy, whether pastoral, agro-pastoral or off-farm. Although diversification among pastoral communities is on the increase, it is important to promote activities that complement pastoralism among communities of northern Kenya. Improved education levels and better access to water are important factors in encouraging adoption of non-livestock-based income-generating activities.

Income Diversification: A Strategy for Rural Region Risk Management

“…In a study that examines the relationship between income diversification and household welfare in Zimbabwe, Ersado found that households living in rural areas with highly variable rainfall were more likely to have a large number of income sources, which was consistent with the idea of income diversity serving as a risk management strategy [14]. Watete et al pointed out that improved education levels and better access to water are important factors in encouraging adoption of non-farm-based income-generating activities [8]. Guvele also pointed out that households, under the drought condition, could more quickly recover from the drought by increasing their sources of income and realized that diversifying income sources was an effective risk transfer strategy [9].…”

“…Table 3 shows that the education level of the household head is significantly and positively related to the number of income sources, as studies [19,20] have explained that high education levels open the window to different economic activities. Good education means engaging in more diverse activities and yields greater chances of earning more money [8]. The results also reveal that rural households with a small proportion of children and elderly people tend to diversify income sources, since a greater proportion of children of household members means that fewer family members are able to engage in agricultural production or migrant workers.…”

“…A previous study by Barrett et al suggests that income diversification is a key method of ex ante risk management or ex post coping with weather shocks, such as drought [4]. Studies, including those of Meert et al [5], Niehof [6], Ellis [7], Watete et al [8], and Guvele [9] on rural income diversification, suggest that diversification is a key method of reducing reduce vulnerability to weather risk. Therefore, income diversification is a crucial livelihood strategy for the rural region of Xinghe.…”

Outcomes of Climate Change in a Marginalized Population: An Ethnography on the Turkana Pastoralists in Kenya

“…7 Similar to other communities affected by climate change, susceptibility to addiction, anxiety, and emotional distress caused by their reduced resilience is also on the increase. 1,3,7 Another outcome of decreased revenue from animal husbandry is an increase in fishing. Locals refer to Lake Turkana as a "free garden" from which anyone can earn a living.…”

“…[3][4][5] Evidence supports the notion that underresourced communities, like pastoralists with limited livelihood alternatives, experience climate change disproportionately. 2 This editorial reflects on our six-week period of data collection in Turkana County, Kenya.…”