Factors Affecting Rural Livelihood in Pakistan

Abstract

The recent study “Affecting factors of rural livelihood with reference of services providers and rural female in district Mansehra” was conducted with objectives to determine the hurdles of rural livelihood, the role of services providers i.e. government & NGOs and the rural female with reference of rural livelihood. A sample size 210 respondents out of 460 was taken by following the random sampling procedure. The study concluded that a highly significant association between rural livelihood and finance is the core problem for all categories of entrepreneurs in rural areas was found highly significant (p=0.000), poor health issues block sustainability of rural livelihood (p=0.000), prevalence of diseases in livestock and crops contribute income decline in rural areas (p=0.003), marketing problem is a major obstacle in rural economy production (p=0.003), land shortage affects rural economy (p=0.005), rural livelihoods get adversely affected by any kind of shock (p=0.007), while Illiteracy affects sustainability of rural livelihood negatively (p=0.014) and conflict leads decline in rural livelihoods (p=0.021). In addition, highly significant relationship was found (p=0.000) between rural livelihood and through NGOs efforts people adopted ability for livelihood choices. Moreover, skill development training on male side contributed good results in enhancing livelihood (p=0.018), microfinance service of government/NGOs plays a pivotal role in the development of rural economy (p=0.031), through rural livelihood programs, the NGO is promoting livelihood and food security activities (p=0.025), protective interventions are considered vital to facilitating livelihood recovery (p=0.016) and livelihood promotion through irrigation development and introducing of productive yield is a good step by the government (p=0.024) had significant relation with rural livelihood. Furthermore, significant relation was found between absence of basic livelihood assets for female makes unstable livelihood (p=0.003), kitchen gardening, poultry and livestock rearing are major livelihood activities of rural female (p=0.004), female make contribution to run livelihood system to contribute household expenses (p=0.029) and rural livelihood. In light of the study, it was suggested to policy makers to provide assistance in term of material and capacity building i.e. easy credit system, agriculture, livestock, health, illiteracy interventions and NGOs & rural female participation in sustaining rural livelihood to minimize the risk of rural livelihood vulnerability.