Livelihood Diversification and Household Food Security in Selected Agrarian Settings of Western Zimbabwe

Abstract

Reducing household food insecurity is a public policy challenge in the Global South. Many rural households diversify their livelihood portfolios as a strategy of dealing with food insecurity. Though considerable research effort has been expended in researching the themes of livelihoods diversification and food security, there is a dearth of scholarship that focuses on poor agrarian settings. The study sought to profile the livelihood diversification strategies used by farmers in the western part of Zimbabwe. The objective was to examine the contributions of livelihood diversification on household food security. Thus, household welfare contribution was measured against food security. The study employed a qualitative research design which included observations and in-depth discussions with key informants. The findings of the study show that households diversifying their livelihoods for survival and accumulation purposes. Whilst diversification of livelihoods can contribute to household food security and resilience to shocks, lack of assets, markets and access to credit, disadvantages poor households. The study recommends the adoption of different livelihood options to ensure the sustainability of agrarian economies in the rural areas. There is a need to encourage rural households to invest proceeds from non-farm economic activities into farming; a move that will go a long way in increasing agricultural production.