Dynamics of Rural Society Journal

Disaggregating household food insecurity access scale indicators based on climate change impacts among smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

2025-08-30T13:46:39+00:00

The growing threat of climate change has worsened food insecurity worldwide, particularly for smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, South Africa. This study aims to compare the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) indicators before and after the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in KZN in 2024. A systematic sampling approach, combined with a descriptive study design, was employed to select sixty farmers. Data on personal characteristics and HFIAS were collected, subjected to face validity and reliability tests, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29, with frequency counts, percentages, and paired sample t-tests. The comparison of food security before and after the effects of climate change shows a significant difference (t = -6.70, p < 0.01). The findings suggest that climate change exacerbates food insecurity, particularly affecting elements such as food availability, access, perception, and insecurity prevalence. The study concludes that climate change has worsened food insecurity on smallholder farms, particularly by increasing dependence on purchased food. The policy implications emphasize areas that need targeted interventions, driven by increased indicators of food availability, access, perception, and insecurity following the onset of climate change. The study recommends strategies to enhance farmers' resilience, including expanding access to climate-smart agricultural technologies and extending agricultural extension services.

Analysis of the ASEAN master plan on rural development of inclusive green villages in Tanjung Lanjut Village

2025-09-11T06:16:56+00:00

This research examines the prospects of rural level development according to the ASEAN Framework by proposing the concept of inclusive green villages to tackle challenges such as poverty and environmental degradation. We use Tanjung Lanjut Village in Muaro Jambi as our main case study in highlighting the importance of active community participation in both the planning and implementation of development projects. Furthermore, sustainable investment plays a critical role in achieving significant progress. This study uses qualitative research methodology with data collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) involving community representatives, and surveys. The analysis is conducted with NVivo software. The findings further reveal that limited access to finance, technological adoption, and weak local institutional capacity are major barriers in achieving inclusive and green rural development. Proposed strategies to address these challenges include improving communication and coordination among stakeholders, strengthening infrastructure, providing capacity-building training for the local community, and facilitating access to sustainable financing. This study emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders, such as governments, communities, and investors to achieve inclusive and environmentally friendly development of rural areas which is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the ASEAN regional context. The conclusion of this study indicates that rural development, particularly in the ASEAN region, holds significant potential to contribute to the SDGs. By adopting the concept of green, inclusive villages, and focusing on sustainable investment, active community participation, and capacity building, rural areas can achieve inclusive economic growth while addressing environmental challenges. However, the success of such development is dependent on effective resource management, improved living standards, and strong governance practices.

Enabling economic independence among rural women through self-help groups: Evidence from the Samridh Tejeshwani initiative

2025-12-28T13:29:58+00:00

Rural women in India continue to face persistent socio-economic challenges, including limited financial inclusion, inadequate opportunities for skill development, and weak market linkages, which significantly restrict income generation and decision-making autonomy. Addressing these barriers is essential to achieving inclusive rural development and gender equity. Against this backdrop, the present study examines the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in empowering rural women—referred to in this study as Samridh Tejeshwanis, denoting economically independent and socially empowered SHG members. This study aimed to develop and evaluate sustainable SHG-based livelihood models capable of enhancing women’s income, leadership, and collective decision-making through structured interventions in skill training, enterprise development, production, and market integration. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating qualitative evidence from field observations, interviews, and focus group discussions with quantitative analysis of pre- and post-intervention income data collected from nine SHGs across seven villages. Key interventions included vocational skill enhancement, financial literacy training, branding and packaging support, digital marketing facilitation, and convergence with government livelihood schemes. The findings indicate significant socio-economic gains, with the average monthly income of SHG members increasing by 61–80% following the interventions. In addition to income growth, members demonstrated marked improvements in communication skills, self-confidence, leadership, and collective decision-making. Enhanced social recognition and greater participation in community and panchayat-level activities were also reported. Overall, the study demonstrates that targeted and integrated SHG interventions can create sustainable pathways for women’s economic independence, strengthen social capital, and provide a scalable and replicable model for gender-inclusive rural livelihood development in India. These findings highlight the value of integrating capacity-building, market support, and policy convergence to accelerate gender-inclusive rural growth.

Tracing livelihood transition through tourism: A qualitative analysis of Hunza Valley in the post-Karakoram Highway era using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework for Tourism

2025-11-11T09:32:11+00:00

This study examines how construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) has influenced the livelihoods of residents in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley (HV) through tourism growth, using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework for Tourism (SLFT). Although transport infrastructure such as the KKH can generate economic opportunities, these effects remain underexplored in the literature from a localized and multidimensional livelihood perspective, particularly in tourism contexts. Using a qualitative design, the study draws on in-depth interviews and field observations to assess changes in human, social, natural, physical, financial, institutional, and informational assets associated with the KKH and subsequent tourism expansion. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted between June and September 2025 and were complemented by systematic field observations in central, lower, and upper Hunza. The findings indicate that while the KKH has expanded economic opportunities, it has also created trade-offs across livelihood capitals; for example, financial gains have often been accompanied by pressures on natural and cultural assets. Notably, the study identifies information capital as a critical emerging resource that enables residents to increase tourism-related income, attract visitors, and adapt to rapidly changing market dynamics. Consistent with prior SLFT-based research, community responses vary depending on social relations, resource availability, and gaps in policy implementation. Sustainable livelihood outcomes therefore require tourism planning that meaningfully involves local communities and policies that balance economic development with cultural sustainability and environmental protection. The study contributes to tourism scholarship on mountainous regions and offers recommendations for infrastructure development that is sensitive to local livelihood patterns in developing economies.