The Effects of Migration on Sustainable Livelihood Capitals: Evidences from Mali Village of Central mountain region in Nepal

 

Sanjeev Poudel – Master’s Thesis

 

Abstract

           

The basic livelihood strategy which is the combination of agriculture and livestock in rural mountains are in multiple stresses through changing climate situation. The people have now diversified their livelihood to non-farm activities like waged based labor, civil service and particularly out-migration to urban areas amongst others. There are studies done in the context of migration and environmental change however the relationship between migration and livelihood capitals has been little explored. Using the livelihood approach as an organizing framework to examine the effects of migration in the livelihood capitals of Mali village this research collected the evidence through household survey along with key informant and in-depth interviews. The ward six of Mali village is moderately vulnerable to climatic related changes as compared to highly vulnerable district as positioned by NAPA report 2010. The results reveal that due to migration effects like increase in fallow land, shifting from large livestock to less labor intensive livestock, limited participation of women in community decisions making process, gaps of semi-skilled youth manpower in the village, increase in wage based labor rates, massive inflow of remittance funding further migration, increase in possession of mobile phones and increase of interest rates to loans provided for foreign employment by one percent. Hence, institutional reforms in property rights ownership, community forestry participation mechanism, structural reforms in school and health sector along with ways to re-integrate the skills of returned migrant and better use of remittance flow in the village in productive sector is recommended.

 

Keywords:  Agriculture, Mali Village, Migration, Sustainable Livelihood, Remittance

 

Download Complete Report/Thesis

 

 

 

Climate Change Adaptation and Gender: A Case Study in Mali Village of Dolakha district, Nepal

 

Aastha Poudel – Master’s Thesis

 

Abstract

The negative impact of climate change is increasingly affecting the livelihood of many people around the world. Adaptation to climate change therefore, becomes important for reducing climate change associated risks and vulnerabilities. This study explores the adaptation responses of mountainous community and mountainous women of ward number 6 village of Mali VDC (Village Development Committee) of Dolakha district in Nepal. Qualitative methods like semi-structured interviews, Key Informant Interview, Direct Field Observation and Transect walk were choosen for the study. A single case study of the village is developed illustrating the adaptation responses of community in agriculture, food security and water. Improved farming practices, integrated crop livestock farming, agricultural diversification through higher value crops and livestock, sustainable management of community forest, protecting soil against erosion and landslides, and using Traditional Knowledge Systems(TKS) to cope with pests and weeds are some of the adaptation strategies in agriculture. Women in the village are more vulnerable to the climate change impacts, nevertheless they are pioneers in sustaining agriculture, food security and water resources. Beer breewing, bee keeping are some income generating activites undertaken by women to improve income for enhancing food security for the family. Male migration from the village to cope with food insecurity has led feminization in agriculture. Likewise, confederacy and trust among the households in the village has enhanced adaptive captacity to drinking water insecurity. This study concludes that- though adaptation strategies are in practice in the village, they are not sufficient in the face of climate change. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation policy in every development agenda is the essence with its real implementation, monitoring and evaluation.  Gender  mainstreaming further in these policies is crucial to make them success

 

Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation, Agriculture, Food Security, Water Resources

 

Download Complete Report/Thesis