Access to Rural Non-Farm Livelihoods - Natural Resources Institute

5.5.1 Poverty
Poverty in its most basic sense encompasses or is related to several of the barriers cited
above. It is most obvious when considering a lack of start up capital, but is also the reason
that more of the proceeds are not reinvested in existing IGAs to allow them to expand and
become more profitable, or evolve into new, more profitable IGAs. It is also related to low
levels of consumption and limited local markets, as well as farmers’ inability to set aside
money for the off seasons, or to see them through hard times, as well as some of the problems
that suppliers of goods and services have with customers not repaying credit.
In the primarily agricultural environment of the village, problems with farming are either a
result of poverty (inability to buy appropriate or sufficient inputs to produce acceptable
yields), or a cause of poverty (poor weather causing poor yields and hence reduced incomes,
or even food security problems), or both (the incidence of pests which farmers cannot afford
to adequately control with chemicals, and which thus reduce yields). Problems in farming
and with farming incomes then affect other non-farm IGAs through reducing the availability
of start-up capital, causing more of the proceeds to be used to cover household expenses
instead of being reinvested, or even causing assets to be liquidated.
Working in groups allows for pooling of capital to get started, and also encourages regular
reinvestment of working capital at least, if not expansion capital. However, successful groups
are not only characterised by trust, but also by the fact that they exclude the poorest who are
unable to meet the investment/membership criteria.
Finally, poverty is also at the root of many people’s inability to take their products to the best
markets, or unwillingness to take the risk that money spent on transport might not be worth it.
5.5.2 Education and training
In contrast to Byakabanda, which was home to numerous salaried employees, typically with
good secondary level education 119 , none were encountered in Kitambuza. Data are few, but
there was no clear pattern between participation in non-farm IGAs and education – of those
who attended the various community meetings, there were farmers with educational levels
ranging from no formal education to S6, while those involved in non-farm IGAs, such as
trading, were typically in the middle of the range with some primary schooling though not
necessarily the full seven years. However, the importance that most people, including those
who are not well educated themselves, place on education for their children indicates that it is
widely perceived to be important in getting on in life.
Lack of skills was perceived to cover a range, from specialist or new skills, such as jam
making, to very basic skills, particularly amongst older women (widows), typically with no
or little formal education 120 . Few people, if any, keep books, which is particularly a problem
119 See section 8.
120
“It’s the only thing I can imagine doing; everything else is impossible.”
Mrs Juliet Bikianyisha, a 70 year old widow with no formal education, on why she would be choose to make
baskets and mats as opposed to another IGA. 12/10/2000
“I’m too old. I’ll just consume any capital. I have no experience.”
Mrs Mebko Mosi, a 51 year old widow, with three years of schooling, on why she does not want to start an
IGA. When asked if she thought training was a good idea, she said that she’d like training in anything, but was
unable to name or actually imagine any specific area. 12/10/2000
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