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Oil palm cultivation has experienced explosive expansion in recent decades. Although the oil palm boom has serious environmental and socioeconomic consequences, only environmental issues have garnered attention in public discussion and synthesis studies. In this study, we synthesize the literature on the socioeconomic impacts of oil palm expansion across various observation units and spatial and temporal scales, which is of significant relevance to policymakers, researchers, and the wider public. Our review demonstrates that oil palm expansion is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has significantly helped both producing and non-producing countries' economies by facilitating the (re)export of crude palm oil and its byproducts and by creating employment opportunities. This has stimulated rural economies, led to rural poverty reduction, and improved food security and diets for rural households in producer countries. On the other hand, it has increased conflicts and tension between local communities and agro-industrial companies, worsened workers' conditions, and widened domestic economic inequality between producing and non-producing areas within a given producer country. Monetary quantification of the costs of oil palm's negative environmental and social impacts indicates that the loss of ecosystem services and social services far outweighs the benefits derived from the increased production of oil palm. The direct income benefits through harvest sales and employment are more evident in the Southeast Asia production frontier, where oil palm cultivation and marketing are relatively advanced and well-integrated into global value chains. The negative outcomes are observed in all oil palm production regions, with more negative effects on food security in the African production frontiers. We propose multiple actionable research and policy recommendations that may jointly lead to inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic (and environmental) outcomes in oil palm cultivation. The socioeconomic consequences of oil palm expansion at the global level, in the African and American production frontiers, and the role of gender in oil palm production systems remain understudied. Hence, studies should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of rural household income, this paper discusses the relationship between the proportion of land transfer proceeds for rural development and the debt risk of rural households and carries out the empirical testing by using a two-way fixed-effects model based on the data from the Chinese Household Finance Survey (CHFS) and the data matching the prefecture-level city data. The study suggests that the debt risk of rural households can be inhibited significantly in case of an increase in the proportion of proceeds from land transfer supporting rural development, and there is a "U"-shaped relationship between the proportion and the risk, which indicates that the proportion should be controlled reasonably to maximum the use efficiency of land transfer fund, and according to the system analysis, the increase in the proportion can enhance the debt-repayment ability of the rural households and reduce their debt risk by increasing their transfer income and agriculture income. Moreover, thus, this paper is of great importance for resolving the debt risk of rural households, consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation, preventing large-scale relapse into poverty, and promoting rural revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition, aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, presents both opportunities and challenges in addressing energy poverty. This article explores the differing approaches of Poland and Sweden in energy poverty alleviation within the context of this transition. Poland, with its historical dependence on coal, faces considerable obstacles as it seeks to shift towards cleaner energy sources while minimizing the impact on vulnerable populations. Conversely, Sweden, supported by its advanced energy infrastructure and strong welfare systems, has implemented effective strategies that have largely mitigated energy poverty, though challenges persist for low-income households, especially in rural areas. The article delves into the definitions, drivers, and alleviation strategies of energy poverty in both countries. Through a comprehensive literature review and the analysis of key initiatives such as Poland's Clean Air Program and Sweden's Warm Rent scheme, the study underscores the potential for policy interventions to address energy poverty. It concludes with recommendations on how both countries can further reduce energy poverty, highlighting the critical role of energy efficiency, social support systems, and the integration of renewable energy in achieving a fair and equitable energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being resource-richly endowed with various energy sources, and despite the connection of 89.8% of the households to the grid in South Africa, the Eastern Cape province, as compared to other provinces, has the lowest level of grid connection of about 64.5%. Some of the rural poor households in the Eastern Cape province supplement their free basic electricity with unclean energy alternatives. Using unclean energy alternatives is not only detrimental to the environment and health of the people, but it is a sign of energy poverty and among the contributing factors to depesantization, deagrarianization, and deindustrialization which prolongs the underdevelopment in rural areas. Innovation in energy technologies is a key ingredient in meaningful rural development. The utilization of small-scale biomass gasification technologies can be a solution to the South African energy crisis in rural areas, and it is in line with sustainable development goal number 7, which is about ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Alternative renewable energy sources cannot be ignored when dealing with the energy crises in South Africa. Renewable energy sources in the country include biomass, solar, wind, and hydropower. Despite its low utilization in the Eastern Cape province, small-scale biomass gasification technology remains pivotal in reducing energy crisis by producing electricity. However, the affordability of biomass gasification technology also plays a role in whether people will accept small-scale biomass gasification technology. The purpose of this paper is to determine the possibilities of using small-scale biomass gasification technology. This paper gives a comprehensive review of small-scale biomass gasification technology potential in the Eastern Cape province and the link between acceptance of small-scale gasification technology and affordability by evaluating the availability of biomass sources in the province and achievements with regards to small-scale biomass gasification. This paper also covers the impact of biomass gasification technology integration in the energy grid, what needs to be taken into consideration before its installation, its benefits and the barriers to its development in Eastern Cape province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite a reduction in poverty the global population in 2015, the incidence of poverty remains very high in Sub-Saharan African countries. Most of the countries in the region are agrarian, with most of their population residing in rural areas, and a majority of the poor in the region are found in Nigeria. This study examined the nexus between participation in nonfarm enterprises (NFEs) and poverty among rural farm households in Nigeria and across the six geopolitical zones. Design/methodology/approach: The Nigerian Living Standard Survey (NLSS) conducted in 2018–2019 by the National Bureau of Statistics was used. We made use of 13,440 farm households with useful information for the purpose of this study. The sample comprises 6,885 households that participated in NFEs and 6,555 nonparticipating households. The data were analyzed with Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) (1984) metrics, probit, and fractional probit models at p = 0.05. Findings: The incidence of poverty was lower among the participating households than in the nonparticipating households. Participation in NFEs had a mitigating effect on poverty. We also established that zonal differentials in poverty rates exist among households in all the analyses. Participation in NFEs was influenced by individual, household, and institutional factors and was also able to explain the depth of poverty among the respondents. Practical implications: It is suggested that poverty alleviation policies should be targeted at improving access to nonfarm economic activities by rural farm households residing in vulnerable geopolitical zones. Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to profile household poverty based on the type of NFEs they are involved in. The study also provides an insight into the effect of the state of residence on zonal poverty models, which is expedient if the country must achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 on the eradication of poverty everywhere. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0493 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper examines the relationships between bank switching and both customer vulnerability and consumer-oriented policies (financial education and disclosure practices). Design/methodology/approach: The analysis employs microdata from the Special Eurobarometer on Financial Products and Services, for 24 European nations. It carries out a probit estimation on the factors explaining propensity of bank switching, focusing on three characteristics associated with customer vulnerability: an advanced age, low educational attainment and residence in a rural or a relatively poor region. Findings: The authors report that the probability of bank switching is significantly lower for three groups of vulnerable customers: the elderly, the less educated and those living in deprived regions. Further the authors identify that national financial education policies and disclosure practices have no significant effects on bank switching. Research limitations/implications: Based on these results, the authors propose more targeted policies recognising customers' heterogeneity are required to increase bank switching behaviour. Originality/value: This paper exploits a unique source of information on bank switching behaviour and customer characteristics across European nations. These data are complemented with information about consumer financial education policies and disclosure practices from the World Bank and geographical, market and regulatory factors at the regional and national levels. The paper contributes to two academic areas. First, it presents further evidence on heterogeneity of bank customer switching behaviour, addressed at improving the understanding of customer vulnerability in banking services. Second, it examines the efficacy of consumer-oriented policies (financial literacy and disclosure practices) in encouraging bank switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of mobile phones (MPs) presents the possibility of creating employment and self‐employment opportunities. Although several studies have documented the impact of MPs on income, the link between MP ownership and poverty reduction channeled by income diversification has not been fully explored. This paper aims to examine this relationship using nationally representative panel data and fixed effect models to account for confounding factors and unobserved heterogeneity. Results indicate that MP ownership is associated with increased income diversification, particularly through on‐farm and off‐farm self‐employment, as well as non‐earned income. This relationship is more pronounced in households with lower levels of education and deprived areas. In addition, owning a MP is also found to decrease poverty via income diversification. Therefore, policies aimed at enhancing access to mobile technologies could create a resilient income portfolio by decreasing transaction costs and improving market efficiency, ultimately mitigating poverty in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The multidimensional health poverty afflicting rural women of reproductive age bears profound implications for the sustainable development of families, societies, and healthy villages. Elucidating vulnerable groups at risk of multidimensional health poverty and delineating its determinants can inform refinements and implementation of health-poverty alleviation policies. Methods: Based on the 2022 "Health Status and Health Service Utilization" survey data in rural Ningxia, China, this study analyzes the dimension of health status, capacity for health service utilization, health expenditure and security using the A-F dual-threshold method, logit model, and probit model. It comprehensively evaluates multidimensional health poverty and analyzes its determining factors among rural women of childbearing age. Results: With k set at 0.3, the health multidimensional poverty index, incidence, and intensity among rural women of reproductive age were 0.021, 0.053, and 0.392, respectively. Chronic illness, capacity for free gynecological examination utilization, health examination utilization, and borrowing due to illness contributed significantly to multidimensional health poverty. Risk factors for multidimensional health poverty among rural women of childbearing age include age, unemployment, family size, and lack of sanitary toilets. Protective factors include being married, educational level, non-farm or student occupation, receiving government support, separate housing and kitchen, owning a television and computer. Conclusions: Even with the elimination of absolute poverty, the multidimensional health poverty situation among rural women remains important from a gender perspective. It is recommended to strengthen economic assistance and health service support for these groups, improve the level of rural health services from a gender perspective, and enhance housing structure and sanitation toilet usage in rural areas. Efforts should be made to narrow the digital divide in rural areas and promote digital health education. Pre-interventions on multidimensional health poverty can provide new pathways for the development, empowerment, and well-being of rural women of childbearing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity in Mbo'o community and the reliance on kerosene lamps for lighting has impacted various aspects of daily life in the area such as education, health, safety and economic productivity. Yields rural exodus and poverty. The aim of this research is to address the challenge of inadequate lighting in the Mbo'o community by developing a sustainable and affordable solution using the AEM10941 solar lamp and thus improving the quality of life for community members and reducing environmental impacts. The methodology involved utilizing the AEM10941 and connecting it with an ATMEGA328pu, switch and LED to construct the lamp. This included configuring the AEM10941, designing the printed circuit board for the lighting and control circuits, and then crafting the lamp casing. The lamp was designed to operate in two modes including indoor and outdoor/security modes. Performance evaluation tests revealed that the AEM10941 effectively charges the battery to full capacity within three hours. Additionally, in indoor mode, a single charge can sustain up to 10 h of lighting, demonstrating the lamp's efficiency and reliability in providing prolonged illumination. At full brightness, the lamp produced an illuminance of 1436 lx. the AEM10941 based solar lamps performance characteristics including illumination intensity, runtime and charging time are in accordance with the standards values and even above. This sustainable way of lighting is the convenient solution to improve the general living standard of the Mbo'o community. The key contribution of this work is the development of a sustainable, affordable and versatile solar lamp tailored to the specific needs of the Mbo'o community. This work provides an innovative solution to address the community's reliance on kerosene lamps, thereby potentially reducing emissions while improving safety and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people in rural sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity and rely on traditional, inefficient, and polluting cooking solutions that have adverse impacts on both human health and the environment. Here, we propose a novel integrated agroforestry-bioenergy system that combines sustainable biomass production in sequential agroforestry systems with biomass-based cleaner cooking solutions and rural electricity production in small-scale combined heat and power plants and estimate the biophysical system outcomes. Despite conservative assumptions, we demonstrate that on-farm biomass production can cover the household's fuelwood demand for cooking and still generate a surplus of woody biomass for electricity production via gasification. Agroforestry and biochar soil amendments should increase agricultural productivity and food security. In addition to enhanced energy security, the proposed system should also contribute to improving cooking conditions and health, enhancing soil fertility and food security, climate change mitigation, gender equality, and rural poverty reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text explores the implications of China's rise to global power status on international distributive justice. It argues that the traditional categorization of states into developed and developing countries is no longer sufficient, and proposes a more nuanced approach based on a state's capacity to achieve a minimally decent standard of justice. The text discusses China's responsibilities towards least-developed countries and explores practical and theoretical implications in areas such as trade restrictions and agricultural subsidies. It also discusses the concept of state capacity and its relationship to the realization of Minimum Domestic Social Justice (MDSJ), categorizing states into three groups based on their capacity. The text concludes that capacity improvements are necessary for the realization of MDSJ and proposes a tripartite framework for understanding states in the international order. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This study examines the participation of the rural poor in tourism activities without external support in selected Iranian villages, addressing the research gap on their direct involvement in formal and informal tourism businesses. Methodology: A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 65 participants from three villages near Turan National Park in Shahrud, Iran. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Results indicate that the rural poor actively engage in tourism. This participation encompasses seeking formal employment in tourism facilities, engaging in informal activities, and acquiring relevant knowledge and skills. The study highlights the significant potential of informal tourism businesses in increasing opportunities for low-income individuals, despite challenges such as lack of capital and legal protection. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that even without external assistance, the rural poor find ways to participate in and benefit fromtourismactivities. Both formal and informal tourism activities play important roles in poverty alleviation efforts. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to support the rural poor's participation in the tourism sector and harness tourism's potential for poverty reduction in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the potential use of third-party agencies as a means of reaching low-income rural earners with insurance offers and services. The people living in the Ikorodu neighborhood received attention. Respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire, and the information was then analyzed using the Logit Binary Regression Model. According to the report, the most mitigating factors preventing the expansion of insurance services among people living in rural areas are poverty and illiteracy. This study came to the conclusion that marketing small goods insurance (such as phones, televisions, etc.) and third-party agents through the operation of insurance point of sale stands should be done in order to promote, develop, and increase insurance in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relocating poor people in mountainous areas to centralized settlement sites is an important poverty alleviation policy implemented by China and a key measure to promote stable poverty alleviation and sustainable rural development for the poor. Based on the survey data of 405 peasant households in the Panxi Area in 2021, this study constructed a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the influencing factors of peasant households' willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. The results showed the following: (1) Of the 405 peasant households surveyed, 20.98% were unwilling to move to centralized resettlement sites, making it more difficult to carry out the relocation policy for poverty alleviation. (2) Living environment, living conditions, important social groups, the economic benefits, living benefits, and survival benefits brought by concentrated residences, governments, and the village committees significantly influenced the willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. In contrast, agricultural income, ecological benefits, and value benefits brought by the concentrated residence had little effect on the willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. (3) Land force, human force, cognitive force, and national force significantly positively affected the peasant households' willingness to relocate to a concentrated residence. This study is of great significance in promoting the implementation of poverty alleviation and relocation policy, improving the efficiency of relocation and promoting the wellbeing of peasant households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is the power source to promote rural economic and social prosperity and the necessary guarantee for rural revitalization, while rural relative poverty alleviation is the inherent requirement for promoting sustainable development and realizing rural revitalization. The pro‐agricultural attribute of geographical indication determines that it can be an important tool to alleviate rural relative poverty. This study analyzes the relationship between geographical indication and rural relative poverty alleviation, as well as the mediating role of agricultural industry agglomeration and the moderating role of agricultural scale operation. We use global Moran's I and spatial Durbin models to achieve these objectives, using panel data from 218 cities in China spanning from 2008 to 2019. The results show that: (1) During the study period, relative poverty in China exhibits a distinct pattern of contiguous distribution, and there has been a significant reduction in the number of areas with high levels. Notable progress has been made in alleviating relative poverty in the central, northeastern, and southern regions of China. (2) Geographical indication can alleviate rural relative poverty not only within its region but also in neighboring regions. (3) Geographical indication can alleviate rural relative poverty through agricultural industry agglomeration, and agricultural scale operation can strengthen the relative poverty alleviation effect of geographical indication. This paper enriches the study of relative poverty alleviation mechanisms and reveals how geographical indications can help. The results can provide useful insights for poverty alleviation in poor areas through geographical indication and a new practice path for rural revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental evidence on the impact of a multi-faceted program that integrates technology-aided instruction, teacher training and coaching, community ownership, and free primary education. Our setting is three districts in rural Zambia, where we randomly assigned the program across 30 treatment and 33 control schools. The results show that the program increased reading scores by 0.40 standard deviations or 3.5 percentage points, math scores by 0.21 standard deviations or 4.7 percentage points, Zambian achievement test scores by 0.15 standard deviations or 3.0 percentage points, and oral vocabulary scores by 0.25 standard deviations or 5.9 percentage points for all children eligible to enroll in first grade. Treatment Effects on the Treated showed substantially larger impacts on learning outcomes of students who regularly attended the schools in Grade 1. Our results indicate that multi-faceted technology-aided instruction programs can improve learning outcomes even in the poorest areas of rural sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Microfinance emerged as an essential catalyst for socio-economic development and financial inclusion to reduce poverty. Microfinance institutions cannot meet their primary objective of poverty reduction if they are not sustainable financially. With the theoretical support of profit incentive theory, this paper aims to investigate the impact of organizational structure (OS), growth outreach (average loan per borrower [ALPB] and number of active borrowers), women empowerment (percentage of women borrowers [PWB]), liquidity, leverage and cost efficiency (cost per borrower) on the financial sustainability of microfinance providers (MFPs) in India and explore the possible moderating effect of the national governance indicators (NGIs). Design/methodology/approach: A financial sustainability index has been developed by using principal components analysis, including both conventional measures (return of assets and return on equity) and efficiency measures (operational self-sufficiency and financial self-sufficiency). Due to the existence of endogeneity and heteroskedasticity, this study uses two-step system generalized method of moments estimates to examine the relationships for a period of 2006 to 2018. Findings: The finding reveals that there is a strong significant relationship between financial sustainability and its influential factors. Organizatioanl Structure, loan size, women borrowers, Gross Domestic Products and inflation enhance the financial sustainability of India's microfinance sector. However, a number of borrowers, liquidity, leverage and operating costs negatively affect the financial sustainability of MFPs of India. The estimates demonstrate that NGIs significantly moderate the association between financial sustainability and its influential factors. The NGIs negatively affect the positive impact of Organizatioanl Structure on financial sustainability. National governance increases the positive effect of loan size (ALPB) and reduces the negative effect of a number of borrowers and leverage on the financial sustainability of MFPs of India. However, NGIs negatively affect the positive relationship between Percentage of Women Borrowers and Financial sustainability of Microfinance Providers of India. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that incorporates all of the six dimensions of the National Governance Indicators (NGIs) and uses as a moderator. Secondly, a financial sustainability index has been developed for measuring the financial sustainability of Microfinance Providers (MFPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT China eradicated rural extreme poverty in 2020 after an 8‐year campaign that combined endogenous economic development involving local people with social assistance. Ethnographic research in a village in southwest China reports township officials, under‐resourced and pressed by higher tiers of government to meet the poverty‐eradication target, commissioning an entrepreneur as a policy‐broker. The latter established enterprises nominally to provide local employment, while seeking profitability from their investment. Prioritising poverty eradication over sustainability, government subsidies were employed to engineer income transfers lifting villagers out of poverty by the target date. Thereafter, transfers of income from the enterprises to impoverished people were at best irregular. The experience highlights the distorting effect of policy targets and the limits to endogenous development undertaken under time–pressure with villagers neither consulted nor benefiting from new employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger, defined by the United Nations, broadly focuses on several dimensions of food access and availability, including measures of hunger and undernourishment, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Progress toward the Zero Hunger goal is monitored using indicators like the Prevalence of Undernourishment and the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity. These indicators are widely regarded as accurately portraying the underlying phenomena of concern. There are, however, other considerations one may want to include when considering the broader food system, including the role of food access and sovereignty in the rural areas of low-income countries. This paper reviews measurements of food insecurity and reflects on how food access and sovereignty may improve food security and, conversely, how it may impede advances toward alleviating food insecurity. These considerations can be helpful in tracking the need and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older. Using data from the 'Rural Household Health Inquiry Survey' conducted in 2022, a three-stage feasible generalized least squares method was employed to calculate health poverty vulnerability. Propensity score matching (PSM) and mediation effect analysis were used to assess the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older and the mechanisms underlying this impact. This study revealed that the use of sanitary toilets was significantly associated with decreased health poverty vulnerability in adults over 45 years of age. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that this effect was more pronounced among males (β = -0.0375, P<0.05), those aged 60–74 years (β = -0.0476, P<0.05), and households with middle income (β = -0.0590, P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis identified total household income (a×b = -0.0233, P<0.05), household size (a×b = -0.0181, P<0.01), number of household laborers (a×b = -0.0107, P<0.01), and registered poor households (a×b = -0.0081, P<0.01) as the mediating factors between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability. The provision of sanitary toilets has been instrumental in mitigating health-related poverty among middle-aged and elderly people residing in rural areas. By improving household livelihood capital, the vulnerability of these individuals to health-related poverty can be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reform of rural collective property rights is pivotal in advancing agricultural modernization and comprehensive rural revitalization. This study aims to explore the impact of this reform on income growth and poverty reduction in rural areas, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Utilizing data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), the propensity score matching (PSM) method was employed to empirically analyze the effects of rural collective property rights reform on income growth and poverty reduction. The findings reveal that the reform has a significant positive impact on rural income levels, indirectly enhancing income through two channels: increasing village collective assets and promoting land transfer. Additionally, the reform has a significant negative impact on rural poverty levels, effectively alleviating poverty in rural areas. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals the differential effects of property rights reform, indicating that non-poor villages, villages with higher educational levels among village leaders, and rural areas in the western regions benefit more from the reform. This study provides precise evidence for policymakers, offering a scientific basis for deepening rural collective property rights reform, promoting income growth, and fostering sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities in parts of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe rely heavily on mopane worms (imbrasia belina) as a livelihood, particularly during times when the households have limited livelihood options. While mopane worms are a vital source of protein and income for rural communities, climate change and variability are putting the sustainability of this vital natural resource under threat. As such, a critical evaluation of the harvesting methods and the associated dynamics is necessary to establish ways of sustaining this resource. This study thus sought to examine the existing mopane worm harvesting practices and evaluate their viability in the wake of climate change and variability. The study focused on Garanyemba Ward 13 of Gwanda District in south-western Zimbabwe. It assessed the harvesting practices and their impact on the environment and the sustainability of mopane worm populations. A qualitative research approach involving participant observation, focus group discussions, and interviews was employed. The findings show that the harvesting of mopane worms in the area was achieved predominantly through climbing up or shaking the trees, plucking worms from branches, and gathering worms that would otherwise be crawling on the ground. Socio-environmental impacts of the existing methods of harvesting revealed include vegetation damage leading to decreased mopane woodland densities, the emergence of squatter communities during outbreak times and the associated land pollution. The study concludes that the influx of foreign harvesters, which eventually exposed the habitat of mopane worms over-harvesting was attributed to limited institutional control. The study recommends control of harvesters by strick enforcement of regulatory frameworks, adherence to selective harvesting to ensure the preservation of worms for future production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of environmental deterioration and to improve human welfare, China’s Shaanxi provincial government has launched one of the largest disaster shelter and resettlement projects in history. In assessing the likely success of this project, it is important to measure the vulnerability and adaptation of rural households in areas where the population experiences ecological and livelihood vulnerability. Based on 657 rural questionnaires collected in southern Shaanxi relocation zones, this study explores four categories of relationship between vulnerability and adaptation based on two aspects of livelihood resilience, namely specific resilience and general resilience. A multinomial logistic regression model is employed to investigate the influence of disaster resettlement on these categories. The analysis finds that: (1) there is a connection between these categories and household livelihood strategies, and rural households are more likely to adopt non-agricultural strategy or livelihood diversification strategy; (2) the livelihood resilience of relocated households is significantly higher than that of non-relocated household, with specific resilience being the main reason for the difference; (3) participation in disaster resettlement, centralized resettlement, and high relocation subsidies are not conducive to belonging in the “low vulnerability–high adaptation” category, while voluntary relocation is conducive to being in this category. These results have significant ramifications for China and other developing national disaster resettlement programs. It is critical for resettled households to reduce livelihood vulnerability and improve adaptive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study endeavors to formulate a sustainable development-oriented model for home-based businesses catering to rural women in Guilan province. Employing a qualitative-quantitative research approach, the study is practical in its objectives and relies on survey methods for data collection. The research population encompasses two main groups: the first group involves academic professionals, scholars, and managers or experts from provincial organizations dedicated to employment and women's issues, while the second group comprises 274 purposefully sampled individuals, including owners, managers, and women affiliated with micro-credit funds in Guilan province, selected through the snowball technique. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data, and the Smart-PLS software package utilized the partial least squares (PLS) technique for advanced multivariate analysis in structural equation modeling. Evaluation of the home-based business development model for rural women, based on the coefficients of the direct path, reveals that educational (β = 0.112), social (β = 0.232), economic (β = 0.274), and policymaking (β = 0.381) variables significantly influence the sustainable development of home-based businesses (P < 0.05). Notably, the policymaking variable exerts the most substantial impact. Furthermore, the model designed for sustainable development can account for 71 percent of the variance in the dependent variable. It is recommended that the government should allocate financial resources specifically for rural women house-based businesses and policies should prioritize and actively support home-based businesses, recognizing their significant impact on rural women's economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigeria, sugarcane is a prominent crop and the primary crop used to produce sugar. However, floods have been a major tragedy that has troubled Nigeria's small-scale farmers. The bulk of rural poor people are these small-scale farmers, and as poverty rates have been rising over time, corrective action is required. This study was therefore carried out to assess the poverty status of sugar cane farming households (affected by flood, and unaffected by flood) in Kwara/Osun State of Nigeria. The study employed two-stage sampling technique to select 120 sugarcane farming households in the study area. Descriptive statistics, the Flood Loss Estimation, Logit Regression and Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) are the empirical analytical tools employed to analyze the data collected for the study. The results of the poverty index analysis revealed that 46 percent of the respondents are relatively poor, the poverty depth was 0.16 which implies that 16 percent were below the poverty line and the poverty severity was 0.07 which implies that 7 percent of the respondents were severely poor. Also, it revealed that flood shocks, gender, household size, household income, access to credit and membership to social organization were significant determinants of poverty. The study then came to the conclusion that many coping mechanisms people employ are corrosive because they have detrimental long-term implications on the sustainability of household subsistence. For future risk assessments and flood mitigation, the study advises using a holistic strategy and adept models. The remedies outlined in this paper would help the government, private sector, and sugar cane farmers economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To share our recent experience of the pattern and demography of endemic bladder calculi in children and the outcomes of current management strategies for the removal of bladder calculi in a peri-urban setting. Material and Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study was carried out at a dedicated urology centre. All patients with endemic bladder stones from January 2020 to December 2021 managed at our centre were included in this study. After discharge, each patient was followed up for 1 year. Data analysis was carried out with IBM SPSS v23. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for normally distributed continuous variables; for non-normally distributed continuous variables, median and IQR were calculated; frequency and percentage were calculated for categorical variables. Results: This study included 254 patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 10.5:1. The mean age of the patients was 4.80 ± 2.86 years. Ninety-one percent of the patients belonged to rural areas. Open cystolithotomy (OC) was performed in 11 (4.3%) patients, transurethral cystolithotripsy (TUCL) in 165 (65.0%), and percutaneous cysto- lithotomy (PCCL) in 78 (30.7%). The mean operative time was 48.8 ± 4.34 minutes for TUCL, 36.18 ± 7.4 minutes for open cystolithotomy, and 38.6 ± 5.2 minutes for PCCL. The most common stone composition was ammonium urate + calcium phosphate (33.1%). The complication rate was 4.8% in TUCL, 12.8% in PCCL, and 27.3% in open cystolithotomy. Stone clearance was 98.1% for TUCL and 100% for both PCCL and OC. Conclusion: Paediatric bladder calculus is still endemic in rural areas of Sindh with poor socioeconomic back- grounds. Timely diagnosis and early intervention with preventive measures can lead to better outcomes and fewer complications. Minimally invasive methods of cystolithotomy have a shorter hospital stay, are more cost-effective, and have fewer complications as compared to open cystolithotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding ongoing efforts through supplementation and fortification programs, the burden of vitamin A deficiency remains high among poor and rural populations. To address this, a pro-vitamin A-enriched genetically modified (GM) rice variety, known as Golden Rice (GR), has been developed as a complementary, cost-effective micronutrient strategy. Despite its potential, the success of its future implementation will heavily rely on the acceptance and purchase intention of target populations. Therefore, this study investigated the determinants of GR purchase intention from a survey of 540 consumers from rural Bangladesh. On average, consumers exhibited a strong intention to purchase GR. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that sociodemographic factors (age), cognitive and behavioral factors (prior knowledge, perceived benefits about GR, attitudes toward GM crops, and dietary choices), and expectations of GR marketing (overall, price, distribution) positively influenced consumers' purchase intention of GR. On the other hand, having more negative risk perceptions and higher income levels reduced consumers' intentions. By using a between-subjects design based on five information treatments, the role of information is examined in two ways, i.e., information length and presentation format. Findings of a series of two-way ANOVAs revealed that exposure to more detailed information about GR significantly influenced consumers' purchase intentions, especially when the level of expectations was low. Additionally, information presented through video or an information wheel proved more effective than text. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and health planners in devising communication strategies and decision-making regarding this valuable but controversial micronutrient strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Zero Hunger", the second Sustainable Development Goal, is one of humanity's most critical challenges and is deeply interlinked with food security. Food security encompasses multiple levels, from food availability to access to food stability. However, for most residents in rural areas of developing and underdeveloped countries, food security primarily means physical, economic, and sustained access to food. Thus, evaluations of food security in rural areas should differ from those in urban areas. This original study introduces a novel approach and an integrated index to assess and present access to food (AFI) using fuzzy and weighted mean techniques. It analyzed 300 rural households in southern Iran. The findings revealed that the AFI of the studied community was 0.551, indicating a moderate level of food security. Most households had intermediate physical, economic, and sustainable access to food, which means that they did not face any critical situations regarding food security. This study suggests that achieving food security requires a hierarchical approach. Realizing the goal of zero hunger in rural areas of less developed countries necessitates a distinct strategy compared to urban areas for policymakers to focus more on food availability and access as the initial levels of the food security pyramid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, Pakistan's economic progress and development have primarily depended on agriculture. However, widespread rural poverty impairs agricultural productivity, which worsens the outlook for growth for both the agricultural sector and the nation as a whole. Raising farmers' incomes through rural development is a key component of agricultural reform, and the prime objective of this study is to identify how government policies and foreign aid affect Pakistan's degree of rural poverty. This research aims to check the mediating role of rural development for the relationship of foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. This research also examines the moderating role of government support in the relationship of rural development with poverty reduction. In this regard, the current study proposes four hypotheses of direct relationships, three mediating relationships, and one moderating relationship. The population comprised farmers. The sample size of 119 was determined using G*Power with medium effect size settings, ensuring a robust representation of the target group. To gather primary data, a close-ended structured questionnaire was administered, employing a 7-point Likert scale to gather respondents' opinions. This study investigates the Punjab province's agricultural landscape from a quantitative perspective, using convenient sampling to identify the characteristics that contribute to reducing poverty, and was conducted from January to December 2023. Analytical procedures utilizing Smart PLS 4.0.9.6 for SEM testing reveal that all proposed hypotheses, including direct, mediating, and moderating, are accepted. The main results show that rural development significantly mediates the relationship between foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. Furthermore, government support positively moderates the relationship between rural development and poverty reduction. The findings underscore the significance of rural development, coupled with government support, as a pivotal factor in effectively reducing poverty in Pakistan's economic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of economic opportunities created by structural transformation, such as income from labor employment and income from nonlabor sources, on the incidence, depth, and severity of rural poverty using the 2018/2019 Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey data. The effects of rural transformations in terms of nonfarm self‐employment and improved farming systems on poverty are also investigated. Ordinary least square, Probit, Instrumental Variable Probit model, and two stage least square estimation methods are used depending on the nature of outcome variables and the Wald test of exogeneity. The findings show that labor income (especially regular salaried income) and nonlabor income (especially remittance from international sources) are crucial in reducing the incidence of rural poverty. Improvements in crop and livestock practices, on the other hand, reduce the incidence as well as depth and severity of rural poverty. The findings suggest that more attention should be given to enhancing the modernization of crop and livestock sectors by expanding access to farm credit and improved extension systems, among other things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique solutions are key when seeking to ensure children living in remote areas are able to access education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the administrative burden imposed by two federal disability assistance programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). We consider how communities in two distinct regions of the United States—and their respective institutions—serve as mediators between citizens and the state. We draw on 68 interviews from Clay County, Kentucky, and Humphreys County, Mississippi—two rural counties with high rates of disability assistance but differing racial compositions. Predominately white Clay County recipients described an institutionally supported route to claiming disability assistance. In majority-Black Humphreys County, most recipients described an institutionally neglected route to claiming disability assistance. The rejection rate and average wait times were significantly higher for applicants in Humphreys County than in Clay County. Our results highlight how disparities in access to and treatment by local institutions can create uneven implementation of federal programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of fast urbanization in developing countries, rural-urban youth migration has attracted several researchers to study this phenomenon. In the absence of an institutional formal framework or measures put in place to assist the rural youth migrants in their transition to urban livelihoods more so as self-employed workers in the new and challenging urban environment, this paper examines the role that social networks and social media play in enabling rural-urban migrant youth transition and integration into urban areas as self-employed workers. We used qualitative data collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews in Arua and Kampala, and we also conducted a focus group discussion in Arua city to complement the individual interviews. The research findings showed the continuous dependence of the youth migrants on social networks and social media in participation and belonging in the urban areas as self-employed workers. Our novel contribution to the literature on youth migrants and self-employment is that rural-urban youth migrants seeking self-employment mostly depend on social networks and social media in transition to the urban economy which necessitates a supportive framework by the government or city authorities for their transition and integration in the cities as self-employed workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformation of agricultural land into urban areas causes negative impacts on the livelihood of people in rural areas and affects their overall condition. To maintain or increase the opportunities for living and well-being during any disturbance resulting from a development project is called livelihood resilience. This research presents a comprehensive assessment of the effects of urban development-induced displacement and resettlement on the livelihood resilience of rural households. The sustainable livelihood approach (SLA), proposed by the Department for International Development (DFID), has been utilized to achieve these objectives. This research designed a measurement model through a systematic selection of indicators under five livelihood assets. The measurement model was verified by interviewing 348 households and applying a confirmatory factor analysis. Then, through a pairwise comparison of three scenarios of households (already displaced, economically displaced, and to-be-displaced) applying Mann–Whitney U-tests, the study evaluated the livelihood resilience of the households of Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. The findings show variability in physical assets across the scenarios, while there is no significant difference in social assets. The economic assets are significantly different for economically displaced and to-be-displaced households. Moreover, the result also shows that economically displaced households suffer the most, while the already displaced households get accustomed to the situation with time. The research reveals that rather than only providing monetary compensation, intensifying agricultural or farming activities, along with providing various supports for maintaining social and human assets, can better ensure the sustainable development of affected people and the efficacy of urban development projects. Moreover, it highlights the critical role of well-structured resettlement programs in mitigating negative impacts and bolstering livelihood resilience. With a novel methodological approach and the obtained results, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners that can help craft urban development strategies that prioritize the welfare of the affected people from rural areas and improve their livelihood resilience. Practical Applications: Urban development, through the transformation of agricultural land, negatively impacts the lives and livelihoods of the people in rural areas. This research endeavors to mitigate the risks by strengthening the livelihood resilience of the households in rural areas impacted by a new city/town development. This research identified four livelihood assets, namely, physical, social, economic, and human, to understand the nature of livelihood resilience. The research reveals that rather than only providing monetary compensation, intensification of agricultural or farming activities, livestock breeding, and accessibility of irrigation facilities are more crucial for people in rural areas. Moreover, the physical infrastructure, although improved after resettlement, may not ensure long-term resilience for displacees and resettlers due to the loss of regular income and employment. In addition, providing necessary information related to displacement and resettlement and various government schemes and assessing and planning by local government, institutions to enhance communication with neighbors and friends are important for making the deprived people resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early detection of lung cancer reduces cancer mortality; yet uptake for lung cancer screening (LCS) has been limited in Washington State. Geographic disparities contribute to low uptake, but do not wholly explain gaps in access for underserved populations. Other factors, such as an adequate workforce to meet population demand and the capacity of accredited screening facility sites, must also be considered. What proportion of the eligible population for LCS has access to LCS facilities in Washington State? We used the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) model to evaluate how geographic accessibility in addition to availability of LCS imaging centers contribute to disparities. We used available data on radiologic technologist volume at each American College of Radiology (ACR)-accredited screening facility site to estimate the capacity of each site to meet potential population demand. Spearman rank correlation coefficients of the spatial access ratios were compared with the 2010 Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes and area deprivation index quintiles to identify characteristics of populations at risk for lung cancer with greater and lesser levels of access. A total of 549 radiologic technologists were identified across the 95 ACR-accredited screening facilities. We observed that 95% of the eligible population had proximate geographic access to any ACR facility. However, when we incorporated the E2SFCA method, we found significant variation of access for eligible populations. The inclusion of the availability measure attenuated access for most of the eligible population. Furthermore, we observed that rural areas were substantially correlated, and areas with greater socioeconomic disadvantage were modestly correlated, with lower access. Rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas face significant disparities. The E2SFCA models demonstrated that capacity is an important component and how geographic access and availability jointly contribute to disparities in access to LCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the power and privilege dynamics that exist in pediatric anesthesia care globally. It highlights the disparities in access to safe and high-quality care between different countries, which are influenced by social determinants of health, economic factors, and political causes. The article identifies poverty, healthcare system fragility, geography and rural-urban divide, extremes of age in patients, poor prioritization of surgical care, race, gender, and colonial legacy as factors that perpetuate inequity in pediatric anesthesia care. The authors emphasize the need for collaboration and investment in strengthening healthcare systems to address these disparities and promote equity in pediatric anesthesia care. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the various fundamental causes of rural poverty in China and justifies its eradication within the framework of a new rural renewal strategy. The main objective of this research lies in conducting a multidimensional analysis of the causes of rural poverty in China, examining the trends in its evolution, and substantiating the prospects for the development of rural territories within the country. The primary research methods are multidimensional quantitative and qualitative analyses of rural development in China and poverty and its causes. According to the study, rural households' economic well-being is still very low in Central and Western China's 22 provinces and other comparable administrative units. In 2022, per capita disposable income of rural households was 40.9% of the income of urban households nationwide. Compared to the year 2000, the average Engel Coefficient has decreased from 48.3%, indicating a moderately prosperous standard of living, to 33%, an excellent qualitative indicator of a certain improvement in rural living standards. The research uncovered a direct relationship between the income of rural households and regional gross domestic product, exports, budgetary expenditures, and the proportion of secondary and tertiary industries in the local economy. A dynamic econometric model has been proposed to elucidate the interdependence between exogenous and endogenous factors influencing the genesis of multidimensional poverty in rural regions. Given the global significance of China's rural strategies, the incorporation of these research findings makes an additional contribution to the global discourse on the development of rural areas and their prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide rates among Black youth have risen faster than any other racial/ethnic group in the past two decades. Black youth residing in rural areas are subject to systemic challenges such as minimal access to mental healthcare providers, generational poverty and oppressive social structures that lead to racial discrimination. Racial discrimination places rural Black youth at increased risk for anxiety, depression, and suicide. Protective factors have been found to mitigate the negative impact of racial discrimination on mental health, but there is limited research covering suicidality and Black youth. This scoping review explores what is known about the role of protective factors in moderating the association between racism/discrimination and suicide risk among Black youth in the United States. Findings were mixed regarding the influence of protective factors in moderating the effects of racial discrimination on suicide risk and more exploration among Black youth in impoverished rural areas is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering local wars. This study investigates whether equitable distribution of public services by governments across urban and rural geographical regions reduces the risk of local wars initiated by armed groups in Sub-Saharan African countries. Does an equitable distribution of public services such as healthcare and clean water public services across regions decrease the risk of armed conflicts? Uneven distribution of public services can increase the risk of conflict by contributing to group grievances, rural poverty, and rent-seeking competition over government resources. Analyses of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1947 to 2021 show that a one-standard deviation increase in equal access to public services by urban–rural location lowers the risk of armed conflict, a substantial 37 to 53 percent with consideration of a battery of control variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the contribution of wage income to the overall earnings of agricultural households in India. Utilising data from the 2019 "Land and Livestock Holding of Households and Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households" conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in 2018–19, the study offers an in-depth analysis of the proportion of income derived from wages by farmers across various states and landholding sizes. Additionally, the paper investigates the impact of public employment programmes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), on rural wages and the income of agricultural households. Findings from the paper point towards increasing landlessness among small and marginal farmers, as they increasingly rely on wages to supplement their livelihood. While a focus on increasing agricultural growth rate by the policymakers may contribute towards farmers' welfare, policies need to be focused towards increase in non-farm employment. Rural employment programmes help to address the issue of chronic unemployment and alleviate rural poverty. Public investments in the form of irrigation facilities and other rural infrastructure are also required to promote sustained agricultural growth and thereby foster well-being among the rural agricultural households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, poverty alleviation is a major concern. The marginalised population generally adopts migration as a livelihood strategy to improve their socio-economic position. Scholars have primarily focused on migration decisions from rural households, a dearth of literature talks about the migration decision by poor households. This study attempts to empirically investigate the factors determining migration from rural households particularly from 'poor households' in developing countries like India. Further, we separate the long-term and short-term driving forces of migration in poor households. Through nationally representative data from the India Human Development Survey (2011) and the logit model framework, the role of household composition, resources, shocks, debts, prevailing male wage in villages etc., in migration decision-making has been examined. Our findings indicate that long-term migration is likely to trigger in the presence of debt burden, household resources, belongingness to upper caste group, and major family events or shock. The result for short-term migration indicates that deprived groups such as Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) are especially inclined towards short-term migration. Debt, major shock and dependent members also trigger short-term migration from poor households. On the other hand, as rural male wage rises the tendency to engage in short-term migration declines, reflecting the need to generate local employment opportunities. The result highlights the compulsion that poor household faces while making migration decision particularly when it is for short duration. In order to achieve poverty elimination and inclusive development goal, there is a need to integrate migration and poverty for policy measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant poverty levels raise critical questions about the impact of poverty eradication programs. Literature reviews play a critical role in highlighting impactful and ineffective socio-economic approaches. This article presents a review of nine qualitative studies that were reported between 2006 and 2013 in poor urban, semi-rural, and rural communities in South Africa. The main goal of this paper is to describe how low-income communities were impacted by programs to reduce poverty. Themes on strength-based interventions, participation, and holistic-multidimensional approaches, emerge from the content analysis as the best account of the impact of community-based poverty eradication programs. Due to the qualitative nature of the small sample of studies under review, a thematic synthesis of the qualitative data provides baseline evidence for further research to assess progress in the provision of development programs, and to generate more insight to strengthen evidence-informed approaches to address persistently high rates of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land is a valuable resource, with economic, political, and cultural significance for the rural poor. Land rights are fundamental to eradicate poverty. Strengthening women's land rights is increasingly on national and international agendas. The previous studies fail to investigate the status of rural women in realizing their tenure security rights in the frame work of the revised proclamation no. 133/2006. This study analyzed the current status of rural women in realizing land tenure rights in the South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 198 sample households and 83 key informants selected following a multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results of the study reveal that 39% of rural women in the study area practiced the experience of transferring land tenure rights according to proclamation no. 133/2006. The study shows that 37.66% of respondents undertook different land right transfers in written form according to proclamation no. 133/2006 article 17(5–6) at land administration offices. Understanding the rights and obligations of transferring tenure rights is an important aspect of reducing land disputes among landholders. In the presence of land disputes, rural women use both formal and informal dispute resolution mechanisms. Therefore, the study concludes that large numbers of rural women realized their landholding and using rights. To better improve the tenure security of rural women, further awareness creation activities and counseling of women are imperative by the local government and other non-governmental organizations working of tenure security, sustainable land management, and women's land right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is pivotal for rural economic development; however, despite hosting a substantial number of tourists, many developing countries with rural landscapes face persistent poverty among local communities. This study aims to delve into the impact of tourism (geoheritage and national parks) on local livelihoods, examining drivers for livelihood portfolio and community decisions to engage in tourism activities. The Multivariate Probit and instrumental variable models (Instrumental Variable Probit, and Two Stage Least Squares) were employed on data from 582 respondents collected through cross-sectional questionnaires. Results highlight the significant influence of socioeconomic factors--sex, age, household size, credit access, market access, social membership, and education--on livelihood portfolio. Results show that specific tourism activities, such as accommodation services, handcrafts, catering and hospitality, and tour guiding, exert varying effects on household food security, income, and access to essential social services. Challenges hindering participation include education levels, information and awareness, service quality, cultural barriers, financial costs, government policies, competition, resource monopolisation, corruption, and infrastructure deficiencies. Recommendations include investments in skill development, infrastructure enhancement, cultural preservation, financial inclusion, regulatory frameworks, and community awareness programs. These strategies aim to facilitate household participation in tourism activities, promoting geotourism and enhancing the well-being of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park communities. Policymakers are urged to implement these measures to uplift local livelihoods and foster sustainable tourism in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of poverty in rural areas constitute one of the main challenges for developing countries. Since agricultural employment is the main source of income in these areas, the design of tools that simulate and help public policymakers will be remarkably useful. This work proposes the development of a model for agricultural employment in Colombia, considering input variables such as education, contract, and income, and the output is the amount of agricultural employment. Real data measured in Colombia are used for the design and adjustment of the model. To design the fuzzy system for an agricultural employment model, the methods employed are fuzzy C-means clustering and neurofuzzy systems. The systems were tested with different cluster configurations, and a fuzzy system was obtained with an adequate distribution of the fuzzy sets and the respective rules that relate the sets. It was observed that as the clusters increase, the adjustment function decreases. The implementation of neuro-fuzzy systems to model agricultural employment will allow public policymakers to generate guidelines that adjust to their political agendas with a lower degree of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural collective‐owned cooperatives (RCOCs) have received significant attention for rural development, alleviating rural poverty, and achieving common welfare in China. Using the Social‐ecological system (SES) framework as a conceptual and analytical lens, this paper clarifies the determinants and the influence mechanism for the economic performance of RCOCs. A mixed method, PLS‐SEM combined NCA approach is applied to 420 smallholder farmers in rural China. The results reveal that rural collective property‐rights system reform (RCPRSR), leadership, social capital, and collective action positively affect the economic performance of RCOCs. Moreover, leadership and social capital also operate through their mediating effect on collective action amongst collective members. Our results further show that RCPRSR, leadership, and social capital are necessary conditions for the high economic performance of RCOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]