Search

The livestock sector plays a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of millions of families across the world, especially in developing countries. However, farming households that rely on agriculture and livestock are particularly susceptible to the impacts of various infectious diseases and natural disasters. This study focuses on estimating the economic burden imposed on households by lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Pakistan and explores the effect of various socioeconomic factors on mortality ratio. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 406 farmers and were analyzed through descriptive statistics to calculate the monetary losses. In addition, the study employed fractional probit regression to identify factors affecting mortality ratio. The results demonstrate significant economic impacts of LSD on farm households in Pakistan, leading to direct and indirect losses and reduced milk productivity. Exotic cows were found to be more susceptible to mortality compared to indigenous cows. The study also found that farmers’ education, experience, household income per month, vaccination, domestic-commercial, commercial animals, and access to information were negatively associated with mortality. The findings of this study emphasize the need for preventative measures such as affordable vaccines, treatment, and improved livestock health and welfare to mitigate the negative effects of LSD on farmers’ income and the local economy.

Purpose – The emergence of COVID-19 and its spread led to severe social, economic and livelihood impacts around the world. This study documented the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdown on the lower-income groups. Also illustrated the impacts on the attainment of SDGs in the context of the slums of Chittagong City. Design/methodology/approach – Both qualitative and quantitative data have been collected from the 150 respondents through questionnaire surveys in the slums. Findings – The lockdown led to the decrease of 90% of the respondents' income level and affected the livelihoods of 97.33% of the respondents, with an overall score of 3.22 ± 0.67 on a four-point Likert-type scale. About 96.67% of respondents' psychological conditions have been affected high to extreme, with an overall score of 3.19 ± 0.68. The pandemic affected 74.67% of respondents' food habits, 95.33% of respondents' child education, increased domestic violence and deteriorated social security, basic service facilities and hygiene practices among the slum dwellers. The severity of COVID-19 outbreaks on the lower-income people makes it critical for the government to attain the SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5 (Target 5.1, 5.2) SDG 6 and SDG 16. Originality/value – The findings of the study will help governments, policymakers, international organizations to adopt measures to mitigate the effects of the outbreaks.

Poor land-use practices have threatened the livelihood of rural people in Ethiopia. This study assessed the local perception of the impact of land degradation on rural livelihood in the Blue Nile river headwaters, North Gojjam sub-basin. To achieve this objective, questionnaires were administered for 414 sample households and series of focus group discussions and detailed interviews were held with participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were buildup using narration and simple description approaches. The finding showed that all local farmers perceived that land degradation was the main local ecological problem since 2008 in the form of soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion; soil acidity and soil biodiversity loss. Most of them (62.54%) perceived as land degradation severity was high and increasing through time, primarily on cereal crop land. Population growth, using animal dung and crop residue for domestic cooking and heating energy, free grazing, using crop residue for construction, absence of fallowing, poor farming, steep slope, and using inappropriate SWC technologies are the main causes of land degradation in the study area. Most local farmers observed as land degradation has decreased crop and livestock productivity, firewood, and surface water resources accessibility. These resulted in the decline in households’ food security and net income over the last 10 years. The finding showed that farmers used traditional ditche, hillside terrace, soil bund, stone bund, check dam, and waterway to reduce land degradation.

This study aimed to assess subterranean termite nests in residential and open crop fields in Central Ethiopia: knowledge and perception of farmers on causes and effects. A descriptive research design was used for primary data collection from the selected district of central Ethiopia. Termite nests were counted from each kebele after clustered into local division called Gox. A total of 72 sampling frames with a 1 km2 were used for termite nests count. In addition, 190 household heads were selected at random from each kebele for questionnaires survey. Termite nests were abundant in Warabo (7.251.71 per 1000 m2), but scarce in Warke Walensu Kebele (2.250.50 per 1000 m2). Teff (49.5%) and wheat (32.6%) were the crops most severely affected by termites. The mean annual hectares of land and quintals of teff and wheat damaged per household were higher in Warabo Kebele (p = 0.000) and lowest in Warke Walensu Kebele. The annual economic loss from crops loss due to termite's effect was greater in Warabo Kebele (4722.23 ± 869.67 ETB and 4396.43 ± 852.65 ETB from teff and wheat per household, respectively). Agroecology, deforestation, grazing, and crop type were the factors that determine termite abundance and its impact on farmers' livelihoods. Mound opening and smoking were the traditional management methods used, but there was no government support. Therefore, integrated and effective termite pest management is critical for long-term food security in the study area. • Termite is the major crop pest that significantly affects the livelihood of society in the study area. • The assemblage and distribution of termites are dependent on crop type, ecology, and human activities. • The indigenous management methods used is not effective and require extensive work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Parks are a category of protected areas that emphasizes the sustainable use of park resources. China is a latecomer regarding the establishment of a national park system. In 2013, the Chinese administrative authorities announced the establishment of its own national park system to better protect the country's natural heritage and the integrity of its large ecosystems. Since 2015, ten pilot national parks have been designated to explore a pathway to implement the national park system better. Local communities are among the most critical stakeholders in establishing and managing a national park. Park management wouldn't be successful without the local residents' support and active involvement. Since national parks are positioned in China as protected areas with the highest priority to nature protection, their impacts on the local people, either inhabiting the park or living nearby, are unprecedented in the country. The park–people relationship is not a new topic in national park research; however, in the context of China's social, economic, and political framework, very little is known about the livelihood impacts of establishing a national park on the local residents and what strategies those residents should adapt to cope. In this study, the authors attempt to reveal the livelihood impacts of the national park creation in China on the local residents and their adaptation approaches by taking northwestern China's Qilianshan National Park (QNP) as a case. The study results indicate that the establishment of QNP and its policies have significantly impacted the livelihoods of the local residents. The more they rely on the park resources, the greater the magnitude of the effect has been, whether they reside inside or outside the park. Overall, the negative livelihood impacts exceed the positive ones at present. Still, most of the local residents wish to sustain their current livelihoods if the park's impacts can be made more manageable for them. Rarely do the local residents try to find alternative livelihoods unless they absolutely cannot overcome the negative impacts caused by the park's policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP) is a marine conservation program providing capacity building for fishers and villagers, including training in business management, creating alternative livelihoods, and programs in marine resource management. This study evaluates the impact of the program by applying a quasi-experimental design using propensity score matching (PSM). The program outcomes are compared between people in COREMAP areas with control areas and COREMAP beneficiaries with nonbeneficiaries. A survey of 684 households was conducted across the six districts in Eastern Indonesia. The results show positive livelihood impacts of COREMAP on coastal communities. In particular, beneficiaries are better off than non-beneficiaries concerning income from alternative livelihood sources and overall household income. The focus of livelihood support in reducing pressure on coastal resources appears to be an effective strategy. The management community unit plays a vital role in conserving coastal and marine resources within the project sites. Hence, there is much incentive for continuing such COREMAP’s initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an attempt to explore the impacts of floods on the livelihoods of people in Char Village, particularly on the income, occupation, and also explores their coping strategies. Data have been collected from three villages in Fulchari Upazila (sub-district). The study is predominantly qualitative. At the same time, quantitative data have also been used. As a result, a mixed approach has been followed to make this research meaningful, where respectively quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through a household survey, and focus group discussions (FGD), in-depth interviews, and ethnography observation. The results disclosed that floods make individuals more vulnerable, as such char land people face work loss, two-thirds of their earnings is decreased, which bounds their competences of preparedness, response, and recovery to posterior flood. In regard to this people deal with the situation by taking a sizable loans from various Organizations and loss of valuables assets. These outcomes would be of significant importance for the disaster policy-makers and civil society delegates.

The objective of this research is to understand the psychological and livelihood-related impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Bangladeshi lower income group people who depend on daily earnings for their living. Following the convenience sampling method, 576 respondents were interviewed for quantitative data and 30 in-depth interviews for qualitative information in several districts of Bangladesh. To 94.1% respondents, livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with an overall score of 3.20 ± 0.77 on a 4-point Likert-type scale. In comparison to unemployed respondents, daily workers have been hardly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR] = 7.957; P <.01), and so they are going outside more frequently in search of jobs (OR = 9.984, P <.01). Due to fear of COVID-19 infection and lack of livelihood means, respondents (76.6%) have been stressed out (overall score 3.19 ± 0.81 on a 4-point Likert-type scale), and those working in industries (OR = 5.818, P <.01), farmers (OR = 3.029, P <.05), and day laborers (OR = 2.651, P <.05) have been highly stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the arrival of Tuta absoluta Meyrick in the eastern African subregion in 2012, several studies have shown numerous ecological aspects of its invasion. We investigated the impact of T. absoluta on people's livelihoods across four counties of Kenya. Here, 200 farmers in the country were interviewed in person using semistructured questionnaires. In addition to livelihood surveys, T. absoluta distribution was mapped between 2016 and 2018 to determine its current distribution across four countries (Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) in the subregion. Albeit a recent invader, T. absoluta is abundant and distributed throughout the subregion and is viewed as the worst invasive alien species of agriculturally sustainable livelihoods by tomato farmers. The arrival of T. absoluta in the subregion has resulted in livelihood losses and increased both the cost of tomato production and frequency of pesticide application. We recommend the implementation of biological control along, with other control measures in an integrated approach, against T. absoluta in the subregion, where its impact on sustainable livelihoods is serious and long-term control strategies are required to curb its detrimental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payments for environmental services (PES) programmes have been widely promoted over the last few decades in many developing countries. Improving the livelihoods of environmental services (ES) suppliers is not only seen as a side benefit but is often considered a prerequisite for the viability of PES. Yet, the ability to draw ‘overview lessons’ over the impacts of PES on livelihoods from literature review studies remains limited. To overcome these shortcomings, we undertake a meta-analysis of causal statistical studies on the effects of PES on the livelihoods of ES suppliers in the developing world. The set-up of our meta-analysis allows us to draw more conservative but more reliable and generalisable overview lessons. Our findings suggest that PES programmes are likely to have positive but modest livelihood impacts on ES suppliers. Further, several institutional characteristics of PES are found to be correlated with more favourable livelihood impacts, such as high payments, high degree of voluntary participation, low transaction costs and better access to alternative income sources. Lastly, our results highlight the importance of controlling for unobservable confounders when undertaking original evaluation studies on the impacts of PES. These factors should be incorporated in the design, implementation and evaluation of PES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]