Access to Rural Non-Farm Livelihoods - Natural Resources Institute

5.4 Farm and non-farm livelihoods
Agriculture underpins the economy of the village and of almost every household, both rich
and poor, with income coming primarily from the sale of food and cash crops as well as small
livestock and cattle. One of the major crops for sale is matooke, which is harvested year
round, evening out somewhat the seasonality of agricultural incomes, which are further
complemented by the sale of small livestock. Paid farm labour is relatively common, and was
reported by 29% of households interviewed, particularly those headed by women. However,
not all could get all the work they would like as the well off people who use hired labour
have access to very cheap labour from a nearby prison. Well off people with cattle also
employ others to care for them.
Just over half (53%) of households visited were involved in at least one non-farm IGA, and
of those which were currently farming only, 43% had been involved in non-farm IGAs in the
past, but had had to stop as a result of old age or ill health 110 , or personal misfortune 111 . Most
of the non-farm IGAs undertaken in the village are traditional in nature, and the older people
interviewed have been undertaking them for 15 – 20 years. Informal observations indicate
that those involved in less traditional IGAs have moved to the trading centre at Lwentulege
(or elsewhere), which has developed very rapidly from almost nothing in the past few years.
NGOs have had relatively little impact – the idea for the one group encountered came from
the radio 112 – and few have had access to credit.
Of the non-farm IGAs undertaken in Kitambuza, trading in agricultural produce and
shopkeeping were reported to be the most profitable, and typically bring in more income than
farming, while the other non-farm IGAs recorded tend to be low profit, low barrier activities
which supplement basic farming incomes, often of households under stress 113 . In contrast to
Byakabanda 114 , a strong farming base was perceived as a very important prerequisite for
entry into a lucrative non-farm IGA 115 . However, most (64%) of those interviewed choose or
would choose to invest any extra money into trading, shopkeeping, or other retail
activities 116 , with only 27% electing to invest in livestock or crop growing activities as a first
priority. In reality, however, most lack sufficient capital to get started in these trading
activities, and thus, when able, tend to invest the small amounts of capital they do have into
rearing small livestock, which can be easily liquidated should the need arise. Three different
female household heads interviewed aspired to non-farm IGAs because they found doing
farm work on their own too hard and too tiring, or were unable to do it due to poor health 117 .
Most of the non-farm IGAs recorded depend on adding value to primary production, or
exploiting natural resources in some way, for example trading in agricultural produce,
brewing local beers, or pottery and basket and mat weaving, while others are based on
providing services.
110 See Box 17.
111 See Boxes 19 and 20.
112 See Box 14.
113 See Boxes 14, 15, and 16.
114 See section 4.4.
115 For example:
“No one becomes rich without starting with a farm”
Participant in the group meeting to define wealth/wellbeing groups and rank IGAs. 13/10/2000
116 See Boxes 11, 13, 17 and 18.
117 See Boxes 17, 20, and 21.
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