Livelihood Aspects of Rural Households in Samurdhi Programme , Ampara District Sri Lanka

Abstract

The following study presents the different livelihood aspects of a rural poor population in a remote district of Eastern Sri Lanka called Ampara district. The study examines the livelihood pattern and their associated vulnerability and coping strategies, profile of livelihood assets and gender differences in terms of livelihoods and assets. The study is based on the livelihood approach and its framework. Non-farm wage employment activities were found to be important livelihood strategy. Non-farm wage employment activities were depended on other agricultural activities. Among the livelihood assets components, there were high deviations in value of those holdings. Every kind of livelihood strategy of this studied sample is exposed to vulnerabilities. Among the different kind of coping strategies adopted, adoption of future plans and ideas was at low level. Gender differences in livelihood strategies reflect that female headed households were mostly included in self employed group. Most of the male headed households were included under non-farmwageemployment. It was also found that male headed households had significantly higher value of assets than that of the female headed household. The qualitative and quantitative measures presented in this study represent the different denotations of poverty which is rooted in that society. People’s awareness, skill training on selected livelihood strategies for identified groups, creating continuous employment to overcome the effect of vulnerabilities are important means to ensure economic security in this area.