Impact of livelihood diversification on household food security : the case of Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe

• Main Author: Ncube, Admiral
• Other Authors: Treurnicht, Stephanus Philippus
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Livelihoods; Livelihood diversification; Food security; Non-farm livelihoods; Self-employment; Wage labour; Drought; 333.316891; Land reform > Zimbabwe; Land settlement > Zimbabwe; Food security > Zimbabwe; Sustainable development > Zimbabwe; Right of property > Zimbabwe; Rural development > Zimbabwe; Income distribution > Zimbabwe; Poverty > Zimbabwe; Rural poor > Zimbabwe; Equality > Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe > Economic conditions
• Online Access: Ncube, Admiral (2012) Inpact of livelihood diversification on household food security : the case of Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/6905>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/6905

This study examines the role of livelihood diversification in promoting household food security with particular reference to Hurungwe District in Zimbabwe. This focuses on assessing the contribution and impact of predominant livelihood diversification strategies in study area. The study employed qualitative methods of research entailing focus group discussions, observation, key informant interviews and literature review as methods of data collection. The study revealed that limited access to credit, skills development, markets and transport infrastructure weaken the efficacy of nonfarm livelihoods to improve food security. Key recommendations are that government, NGOs and communities must work in tandem to increase livelihood options for food insecure communities. Suggested strategies include increasing access to micro finance, vocational skills training and other support services paying attention to gender considerations. Areas requiring further investigation which emanated from the study include the impact of the shift to tobacco farming and how biotechnology has affected smallholder farmers. === Development Studies === M.A. (Development Studies)