Livelihood Security and Income Diversification of Tea Smallholders; Evidence from Galle District
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Date
2015
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
This investigation was planned to give reasonable light on the Income diversification strategy and its effect on household livelihood security level of tea smallholders in Galle district with the objectives viz. (i) to assess the components of livelihood security of tea small holders. (ii) to identify the factors effecting to the livelihood security of rural tea smallholders. (iii) to identify the relationship between household livelihood security level and income diversification strategy of tea smallholders. Hingaloya/Hiniduma Tea inspector sub office were purposely selected for the study area and total sample size was 200 tea smallholder households. Primary data were gathered through pre tested questionnaire. Tabular and regression techniques were employed to analysis the data. Economic (2.77), Education (3.41), Food (4.83), Habitat (3.56) and Health security (3.90) were in the higher range except Empowerment Security (2.54) within the sample population. Overall livelihood security level was in 3.6 higher range among tea smallholders of Galle according to the standardized score range of livelihood outcomes. Linear regression results revealed that income diversification, gender of household head,
10 years or more educated household head, number of dependents, total income share on tea cultivation, household size were significantly related with the household livelihood security. Educated male headed Households which adopt income diversification technique while allocating better share of total income on maintenance of existing tea cultivation showed appropriate level of livelihood condition. If that kind of households have more family members with less dependents, it also improved the level of livelihood security up to the higher range. It confirmed the accuracy of decision taken by 62.5 percent tea smallholder household head's to diversify their income as a livelihood strategy to coping up against the difficulties and uncertainty belongs to the tea cultivation and industry.
Key words: Calorie Adequacy Ratio; Diet Diversity; Livelihood security; Livelihood strategy; linear regression; Income diversification.
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Tea Technology and Value Addition Degree Programme ( TEA)