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Rural Livelihood Diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review

Alobo Loison, Sarah Harriet LU (2015) In Journal of Development Studies 51(9). p.1125-1138
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the nature and evolution of rural
livelihood diversification in sub-Saharan Africa, and the situation regarding smallholders. It reveals mixed
findings about the causes and consequences of livelihood diversification on rural smallholders adopting this
strategy. A lot of evidence from the literature suggests that it is relatively better-off smallholders with sufficient
assets who achieve successful livelihood diversification, mainly by exploiting opportunities and synergies between
farm and nonfarm activities. Because of asset constraints, increase in incomes and wealth based on livelihood
diversification has not yet benefitted the large majority of... (More)
This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the nature and evolution of rural
livelihood diversification in sub-Saharan Africa, and the situation regarding smallholders. It reveals mixed
findings about the causes and consequences of livelihood diversification on rural smallholders adopting this
strategy. A lot of evidence from the literature suggests that it is relatively better-off smallholders with sufficient
assets who achieve successful livelihood diversification, mainly by exploiting opportunities and synergies between
farm and nonfarm activities. Because of asset constraints, increase in incomes and wealth based on livelihood
diversification has not yet benefitted the large majority of smallholders. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Development Studies
volume
51
issue
9
pages
1125 - 1138
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:84941748116
  • wos:000369823100001
ISSN
0022-0388
DOI
10.1080/00220388.2015.1046445
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bbaf24a8-9043-471b-8cb4-b878118e0df8
date added to LUP
2017-06-01 21:45:28
date last changed
2022-04-17 02:04:54
@article{bbaf24a8-9043-471b-8cb4-b878118e0df8,
  abstract     = {{This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the nature and evolution of rural<br/>livelihood diversification in sub-Saharan Africa, and the situation regarding smallholders. It reveals mixed<br/>findings about the causes and consequences of livelihood diversification on rural smallholders adopting this<br/>strategy. A lot of evidence from the literature suggests that it is relatively better-off smallholders with sufficient<br/>assets who achieve successful livelihood diversification, mainly by exploiting opportunities and synergies between<br/>farm and nonfarm activities. Because of asset constraints, increase in incomes and wealth based on livelihood<br/>diversification has not yet benefitted the large majority of smallholders.}},
  author       = {{Alobo Loison, Sarah Harriet}},
  issn         = {{0022-0388}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1125--1138}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Development Studies}},
  title        = {{Rural Livelihood Diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2015.1046445}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00220388.2015.1046445}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}