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Emerging Trends in Livelihood Diversification in Rural Communities: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review
No full textLivelihood diversification has become an important avenue for rural people to build resilience, alleviate poverty, and adjust to socio-economic and environmental changes. The trend is part of a broader change in rural economies, in which diversification has become a way to spread risk, smooth incomes, and enhance well-being. This study examined the idea of Livelihood Diversification in Rural Communities by conducting a thorough Systematic Literature Review and bibliometric Analysis. This study uses a combined systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of 318 Scopus-indexed publications published between 2014 and 2024 to examine livelihood diversification in rural areas. VOSviewer and R-based Biblioshiny software were used to analyze the articles, which show a 5.07% yearly growth rate and an average of 19.08 citations per document. With 18,548 references, the collection demonstrated the depth of research in this area. One of the most important discoveries is that academics increasingly work together internationally; 37.74% of articles include international co-authorship. The research also emphasizes how the word "Climate Change" is becoming increasingly common in the literature, indicating the growing impact of climate change. Leading countries in the topic include the USA, Australia, and India; notable periodicals in this area include the Journal of Rural Studies, Sustainability (Switzerland), and Climate and Development. According to network analysis, "livelihood" is a key idea that is linked to concepts like "food security," "rural development," and "economic development." The study concluded that while much progress has been made in understanding diversification's drivers, strategies, and outcomes, there are still key research gaps, particularly around the need to address the complexities of different rural contexts, the role of intersectional factors, and the long-term impacts of livelihood strategies. The project intends to use these insights to guide evidence-based policy actions that support equitable and sustainable development in rural regions
From Local Threads to the Formation of Ilocano Identity: The Socio-cultural Relevance of Panagabel in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
No full textThis ethnographic study explores the intricate symbolism, socio-cultural significance, and preservation efforts surrounding Panagabel, the traditional loom weaving of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews with seven experienced local Abel weavers determined through purposive sampling, this study documents the rich narratives embedded within diverse Abel patterns, including tanap abel and abel-a-sumileng, following the framework outlined by Braun & Clarke. The Abel Vigan serves as a tangible expression of Ilocano beliefs, cultural history, and communal identity. The study reveals a critical challenge in the transmission of Panagabel techniques, highlighting the potential loss of traditional knowledge. Furthermore, it demonstrates the profound connection between weavers and their crafts and the Ilocano socio-cultural identity, thus reflecting core values such as kinakired (strength), kinagaget (industry), kinalaing (skill), and kinakermet (thrift). The research underscores the vital role of collaborative initiatives between weavers and local government in ensuring the sustainable preservation of this cultural heritage. Ultimately, this study documents Abel Vigan and its embedded socio-cultural relevance to safeguarding this knowledge against potential loss, as it also advocates for a culturally sensitive approach to preserving Abel weaving in Vigan, emphasizing the need to empower traditional weavers economically while safeguarding the craft's authenticity and intrinsic cultural value
Constraints Faced in Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture among Coastal Farmers in Southern Bangladesh
No full textClimate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers an effective approach to tackling food security, enhancing agricultural productivity, and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. The objectives of the study were to determine and describe the extent of constraints faced by coastal farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices and also to examined the relationships and contributions of selected socio-economic characteristics of the farmers to the extent of constraints they faced. The research was conducted at Kalapara Upazila (Sub district) of Patuakhali District, where data were collected from a sample of 310 coastal farmers using pre-tested interview schedule and selected through multi-stage random sampling technique. The constraint scores of the coastal farmers ranged from 47 to 87, against the possible range of 20 to 100. The mean and standard deviation were 67.16 and 8.83 respectively. Majority (59.03%) of the coastal farmers faced medium level of constraints, while 22.26% faced low and 18.71% faced high levels of constraints in adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Correlation analysis revealed that agricultural knowledge, training exposure, communication exposure and cosmopoliteness were significantly and negatively associated with the constraints faced. Conversely, innovativeness and economic motivation had significant positive associations with the level of constraints faced. Regression analysis showed that 18.7% of the variance in the constraints faced by the coastal farmers could be explained by four variables: agricultural knowledge (9.8%), cosmopoliteness (3.4%), economic motivation (3.9%) and training exposure (1.6%). These findings suggest important directions for future initiatives. Effort should focus on designing targeted interventions that enhance farmers access to agricultural knowledge, training program and effective communication channels, as these factors were found to significantly reduce the constraints faced in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. Additionally, policies should also aim to foster positive attitudes toward innovation and improve socio-economic conditions, thereby reducing the constraints faced in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices in vulnerable coastal regions
Agrarian Change, Migration, and Livelihood Diversification in Rural Tamil Nadu
No full textThis study examines the dynamics of agrarian change and livelihood diversification in Semboothi, a village located in the Ponnamaravathi block of Pudukottai district, Tamil Nadu. Drawing on primary data from a detailed household survey covering 100 households (462 individuals) across six caste groups, the research investigates the intersection of caste, migration, education, and occupational shifts within a transforming rural economy. The study reveals that the rural economy is undergoing a significant transformation marked by the declining viability of agriculture, a sharp rise in non-farm employment, and increasing dependence on migration. While agriculture remains symbolically important, only 73% of households own land, with average holdings of 1.67 acres and limited irrigation access—factors that contribute to agrarian distress and push even landowning castes towards alternative livelihoods. Caste continues to strongly mediate access to land, education, and mobility. Scheduled Caste (SC) and Muslim households, historically excluded from agrarian privilege, now report higher average per capita incomes (₹63,731 and ₹70,800 respectively) than some dominant castes, driven by greater integration into urban labor markets and higher educational attainment. Intergenerational data show marked improvements in education among SCs and intermediary castes like Konars, while groups like Ambalakarars and Maravars display stagnation or decline. Migration, particularly among SC, Konar, and Maravar households, has emerged as a central strategy for livelihood security: migrant households earn 55.6% more on average than non-migrants, with the highest gains recorded among SCs (101.1%) and Maravars (154.5%). Even among landowning households, 27.4% reported sending members for migrant work due to declining returns from farming. Occupational diversification is evident across caste lines, yet remains stratified; while some move into skilled urban jobs or overseas employment, others remain confined to low-paying informal labor. The study concludes that while Semboothi's rural transformation offers new avenues of mobility—particularly through education and migration—these gains are uneven and mediated by caste, land, and access to infrastructure, reinforcing the need for targeted, caste-sensitive policy interventions to ensure inclusive rural development
Factors Affecting Farmers with Disabilities towards Access to Extension and Advisory Services in Ghana
No full textAims: Extension and advisory services are crucial for farmers to increase their output and income, but farmers with disabilities (FwDs) face numerous challenges in receiving these services. Consequently, this study investigates the factors influencing farmers with disabilities' access to agricultural extension services in Ghana.
Study Design: A quantitative approach was employed using the Fractional Outcome Regression Model to analyze the data.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the 16 regions of Ghana, West Africa, from June to August 2023.
Methodology: The study sampled 386 FwDs and 60 agricultural extension agents from all sixteen regions of Ghana. A survey as an instrument/method was used for data collection, and two semi-structured questionnaires were developed and distributed to agricultural extension officers and FwDs in farming communities across the country to gather primary data.
Results: The findings of the study indicate that three variables were found to be statistically significant in determining FwDs' access to agricultural extension and advisory services per year. These include the age of the farmer, access to farmer-based organizations, and years of farming experience. All these variables were found to have a significant impact on FwDs' access to extension services. The study highlights the importance of FBOs and farming experience in increasing access to extension services for FwDs.
Conclusion: These findings can inform policy and program development to improve the well-being of FwDs through greater access to extension services
Exploring the Ubaya Ritual: A Sacred Indigenous Practice of the Muyadan Tribe in Northern Philippines
No full textThis study explored the ubaya as an indigenous ritual practiced by the Muyadan (Ammutan) Tinguian tribe of Manabo, Abra which emphasizes their strong ties to their ancestors and encourages unity and cooperation among the community. This study utilized an ethnoic thematic approach, combining structured interviews, thematic analysis, and participant observation. Two baglan leaders and ten community members from different barangays of Manabo, Abra served as study participants, contributing their knowledge of the ritual's historical context, procedures, symbolism, and its function in expressing the community's indigenous identity and customs. The findings revealed that the ritual, led by a baglan (ritual leader), is to seek Kabunian’s blessing for a bountiful harvest (pinatuk) and protection against diseases and illness (duklos). Despite the influences of modernity and external pressures, the ubaya is still a living tradition that reflects the tribe's unique knowledge system and practice. Therefore, schools should improve the implementation of indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSP) into the curriculum and provide more policies which promote the preservation of rituals as an essential manifestation of the indigenous knowledge and spirituality of the Tinguian people, highlighting its continuing cultural relevance
Effect of Fertilizer Subsidy Policy on Rice Productivity: A Cross-sectional Survey among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Western Kenya
No full textRice farming remains an important pillar of Kenya's economy due to its positive impact on increasing household food security, raising farmers’ income, and providing employment. However, domestic rice production still falls short of demand. This study aimed to assess the effect of Kenya’s National Fertilizer Subsidy Program (NFSP) on rice productivity in Western Kenya. An analytic cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 480 randomly selected rice farmers in Kisumu and Busia counties. Rice yield per acre was used as the productivity measure. Fertilizer use was categorized into four groups: subsidized, unsubsidized, both, and none. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Farmers using both subsidized and unsubsidized fertilizers achieved the highest mean yield of 3.09 t/acre. In irrigated areas (n=62), this group recorded 3.17 t/acre, while in rain-fed areas (n=26), they achieved 2.91 t/acre. The combined fertilizer group had a significantly higher yield overall (mean = 3.01 t/acre; p < 0.05) compared to the other categories. It has been established that, combining subsidized and unsubsidized fertilizers gives higher rice yields. Enhancing fertilizer access, improving distribution systems, and promoting best practices in both irrigated and rain-fed ecosystems can boost rice productivity in Kenya
Adoption of Climate-smart Agriculture Innovations in Drought-prone Regions: A Global Bibliometric Review (2016-2025)
No full textThe 21st century has seen rapid changes in global climate, and agriculture, being strongly dependent on local weather and natural resources, is thus one of the most affected sectors. The adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations is indispensable in promoting drought resilience, but their uptake appears inconsistent in the vulnerable regions. This paper aims to systematically characterise the global research landscape concerning the adoption of CSA for drought adaptation, based on available evidence. The bibliometric review of the adoption research in drought-prone areas (107 Scopus-indexed articles ranging from 2016 to 2025) is performed in this study. In this paper, we ask five research questions on publication trends, geographic and institutional contributions to the field of DCSR, and an overview of key themes and knowledge gaps. The findings tell a story of an annual increase in publications by 31.8%, with nearly half (48.6%) involving international collaboration. Good technical performance of the ICT tools is reported in drought-prone regions by institutes like ICAR-CRIDA (India), KNUST (Ghana), and CIAT (Colombia). Research clusters are related to: (1) barriers in socio-technical adoption, such as access to extension and credit; (2) intersections between society and environmental systems, for example, drought-food security linkages; and to a lesser extent (3) the geography of SSA-Asia focus that leaves little space for Latin America. Key challenges persist, including significant gaps in gender inclusion, policy integration, and market connectivity. The type of research that has the highest impact is often too removed from the immediate local context in which it will be applied, and suggests that knowledge systems need to be better embedded in regions. This paper contributes to policy and research by supporting community-led CSA practices, South-South learning networks, and national resilience assessments. An innovation ecosystem, globally informed but locally grounded, will be crucial to the diffusion of CSA amongst drought-vulnerable smallholders. This review concludes that for decision makers to scale up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), a locally rooted and globally connected innovation system is needed within which their constituents are encouraged
Large-Scale Demonstrations and Awareness Programmes Promoting Adoption of Direct Seeded Rice Technology in Haryana, India
No full textBackground: Historically, transplanting has been the dominant method of rice cultivation in many Asian countries, but it is labour-intensive, water-intensive, and contributes to environmental degradation. In India for ages, rice has been traditionally grown by transplanting seedlings in the puddled field, which requires raising of nursery about one month earlier than transplanting time, directly increasing the cost of cultivation. In conservation agriculture, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology has emerged as a potential alternative to transplanting.
Aims: The study aimed to assess the impact of large-scale demonstrations and awareness programmes on the adoption of DSR technology in Haryana’s Fatehabad district. The primary goal was to evaluate changes in agronomic performance, economic viability, and area under DSR cultivation across a three-year period (2022–2024).
Methodology: This was a multi-year, field-based extension and demonstration study involving comparative evaluations between traditional Transplanted Rice (TR) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). The design incorporated agronomic trials, farmer participation, and dissemination activities to analyse both yield and economic outcomes. The study was conducted in Fatehabad district, Haryana, India, over a period of three years (2022 to 2024). Demonstrations were implemented across multiple villages and blocks within the district.
A total of 95 farmers participated over the study period, covering 38 hectares. DSR plots utilised standardised agronomic practices recommended by CCS HAU, Hisar, with varieties PB-1121 and PB-1509. Field demonstrations employed DSR-specific sowing equipment, dry seedbed methods, and structured weed, water, and nutrient management. Yield parameters, input costs, net income, and benefit-cost ratios were recorded. Extension activities—including field days, village-level meetings, and training programs—were also organised.
Results: While DSR yields were marginally lower than TR (by 2.05–2.43%), they were not statistically significant and showed improvement over time. DSR offered higher net incomes and superior benefit-cost ratios each year, largely due to reduced labour and input costs. Technology index declined from 18.18% (2023) to 12.0% (2024), indicating improved adoption. Awareness efforts facilitated a 93.7% increase in DSR cultivation area from 13,279 acres (2022) to 25,713 acres (2024). Farmer feedback and demonstration results highlighted the viability and economic attractiveness of DSR when supported by training and adaptive extension support.
Conclusion: Large-scale demonstrations and awareness programs significantly enhanced farmer adoption of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) in Haryana’s Fatehabad district. Despite marginal yield reductions, DSR proved more profitable due to lower input costs and higher benefit-cost ratios. Continued training and localised support are essential for scaling DSR as a sustainable alternative to traditional rice transplanting
Utilization Pattern of Paddy Residue Management Techniques (PRMT) by Paddy Farmers in Eluru District, Andhra Pradesh
No full textThe utilization pattern of PRMT by paddy farmers was studied in Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh, which was purposively selected due to its significant contribution to paddy cultivation and residue generation. The study was conducted from oct 2024 to june 2025 to understand the adoption levels and improve sustainable residue management practices. Three mandals viz. Bhimadolu, Denduluru, and Pedapadu were selected randomly, and a total of 120 farmers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The results revealed that little more than three-fifths (61.66%) of the paddy farmers had the medium utilization pattern followed by low (20.83%) and high (17.51%) utilization pattern of PRMT. Traditional techniques emerged as the most prominent, secured the highest index score of 73.40 followed by field techniques ranked second with a score of 62.26, whereas recent interventions ranked third with an index score of 56.94 and industrial techniques with a score of 49.65 claimed the fourth position. The study aims to assess the utilization patterns and management strategies of paddy residue adopted by farmers to ensure effective policy formulation, strengthen extension strategies and encourage environmentally sustainable practices that enhance both agricultural productivity and resource conservation. It provides insights on the factors that facilitate and hinder the adoption of PRMT, bridging the gap between environmental sustainability goals and grassroots agriculture practices