IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6866-d1712032.html

Examining the Impacts of Land Resources and Youth Education on Agricultural Livelihood in Battambang Province

Author

Listed:
  • Dyna Chin

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sanara Hor

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Soksan Seng

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sophak Pok

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Lyhour Hin

    (Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Chaneng Yin

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sotheavy Kin

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Nuch Sek

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sopharith Nou

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sokhieng Chhe

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Thapkonin Chhoengsan

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Pengkheang Mol

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Chetha Chea

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Sambath Eun

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Linna Long

    (Faculty of Land Management and Land Administration, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12108, Cambodia)

  • Hitoshi Shinjo

    (Laboratory of Soil Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

Abstract

Since the end of the Civil War, Cambodia has pursued economic development to enhance livelihoods, particularly in rural areas, where land is a critical resource. Previous studies have indicated that the country has changed land use and land cover. However, they have not explained how these changes can improve the livelihoods of local communities, thereby mitigating their negative impacts through an asset-based approach. Battambang Province, in the northwestern region, was the battleground until political integration in 1996. Since then, the province has been home to immigrants exploring the lands for livelihood. Thus, this study aims to examine agricultural livelihoods in the villages of Dei Kraham and Ou Toek Thla, located west of Battambang Town. These were selected because of their common characteristics. Adopting a quantitative approach and a sustainable livelihood framework, this study employed stratified random sampling to select 123 families for interviews across three population subgroups: old settlers, new settlers, and young settlers. In situ information was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis tests to assess the livelihood assets underlying the physical, natural, human, financial, and social capital. The statistical analysis results reveal no significant differences ( p -value = 0.079) in livelihood assets between the strata at the village level. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in physical, human, and financial capital between old and young settlers when examining the subgroups ( p -value 0.000). The extent of the land resources held by old settlers was associated with household income and livelihoods related to agriculture. Based on livelihood asset scores, nearly half of the new settlers (0.49–0.5) and a quarter of the young settlers (0.47) are vulnerable groups requiring support. The youth will soon face an uncertain future if they do not prioritize education.

Suggested Citation

  • Dyna Chin & Sanara Hor & Soksan Seng & Sophak Pok & Lyhour Hin & Chaneng Yin & Sotheavy Kin & Nuch Sek & Sopharith Nou & Sokhieng Chhe & Thapkonin Chhoengsan & Pengkheang Mol & Chetha Chea & Sambath E, 2025. "Examining the Impacts of Land Resources and Youth Education on Agricultural Livelihood in Battambang Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6866-:d:1712032
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6866/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6866/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reardon, Thomas & Taylor, J. Edward, 1996. "Agroclimatic shock, income inequality, and poverty: Evidence from Burkina Faso," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 901-914, May.
    2. repec:iwt:bosers:h032821 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Felkner, John S. & Lee, Hyun & Shaikh, Sabina & Kolata, Alan & Binford, Michael, 2022. "The interrelated impacts of credit access, market access and forest proximity on livelihood strategies in Cambodia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Abir Majbauddin & Shinji Otani & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Misganaw Teshager Abeje & Zerihun Nigussie & Intekhab Alam & Qing Qing & Toshio Masumoto & Youichi Kurozawa, 2020. "The Influence of Income and Livelihood Diversification on Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-12, April.
    5. Trung Thanh, Hoang & Tschakert, Petra & Hipsey, Matthew R., 2021. "Moving up or going under? Differential livelihood trajectories in coastal communities in Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Do, Truong Lam & Bühler, Dorothee & Hartje, Rebecca & Grote, Ulrike, 2015. "Rural livelihoods and environmental resource dependence in Cambodia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 282-295.
    7. Jiao, Xi & Pouliot, Mariève & Walelign, Solomon Zena, 2017. "Livelihood Strategies and Dynamics in Rural Cambodia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 266-278.
    8. Natarajan, Nithya & Newsham, Andrew & Rigg, Jonathan & Suhardiman, Diana, 2022. "A sustainable livelihoods framework for the 21st century," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    9. Jonathan Haughton & Shahidur R. Khandker, 2009. "Handbook on Poverty and Inequality," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11985, April.
    10. Muhammad Azher Bhatti & Sosheel Solomon Godfrey & Ryan H. L. Ip & Chipo Kachiwala & Håvard Hovdhaugen & Liveness J. Banda & Moses Limuwa & Peter C. Wynn & Tormod Ådnøy & Lars Olav Eik, 2021. "Diversity of Sources of Income for Smallholder Farming Communities in Malawi: Importance for Improved Livelihood," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-19, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Do, Truong Lam & Halkos, George & Wilson, Clevo, 2020. "Health shocks and natural resource extraction: A Cambodian case study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Peiyu Zhao & Jiajun Xu, 2024. "Analysis of Residents’ Livelihoods in Transformed Shantytowns: A Case Study of a Resource-Based City in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Torres, Bolier & Günter, Sven & Acevedo-Cabra, Ricardo & Knoke, Thomas, 2018. "Livelihood strategies, ethnicity and rural income: The case of migrant settlers and indigenous populations in the Ecuadorian Amazon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 22-34.
    4. Jin, Shaoze & Min, Shi & Huang, Jikun & Waibel, Hermann, 2021. "Falling price induced diversification strategies and rural inequality: Evidence of smallholder rubber farmers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Martins, Angelina R.O. & Shackleton, Charlie M., 2022. "The contribution of wild palms to the livelihoods and diversification of rural households in southern Mozambique," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    6. Kazungu, Moses & Zhunusova, Eliza & Yang, Anastasia Lucy & Kabwe, Gillian & Gumbo, Davison J. & Günter, Sven, 2020. "Forest use strategies and their determinants among rural households in the Miombo woodlands of the Copperbelt Province, Zambia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Rui Sun & Jianing Mi & Shu Cao & Xiao Gong, 2019. "Classifying Livelihood Strategies Adopting the Activity Choice Approach in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Isael Fierros-González & Jorge Mora-Rivera, 2022. "Drivers of Livelihood Strategies: Evidence from Mexico’s Indigenous Rural Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Promita Mukherjee & Biswajit Ray, 2026. "Household Livelihood Strategies and Forest Resource Use in Rural West Bengal, India," Studies in Microeconomics, , vol. 14(1), pages 46-76, April.
    10. Kong, Rada & Castella, Jean-Christophe, 2021. "Farmers' resource endowment and risk management affect agricultural practices and innovation capacity in the Northwestern uplands of Cambodia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    11. Truong Lam Do & Trung Thanh Nguyen & Ulrike Grote, 2022. "Livestock production and income inequality in rural Vietnam," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 409-438, February.
    12. Liao, Chuan & Jung, Suhyun & Brown, Daniel G. & Agrawal, Arun, 2024. "Does land tenure change accelerate deforestation? A matching-based four-country comparison," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    13. Joshua Aizenman & Yothin Jinjarak, 2012. "Income Inequality, Tax Base and Sovereign Spreads," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 68(4), pages 431-444, December.
    14. Sakaue, Katsuki, 2018. "Informal fee charge and school choice under a free primary education policy: Panel data evidence from rural Uganda," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 112-127.
    15. Caviedes, Julián & Ibarra, José Tomás & Calvet-Mir, Laura & Álvarez-Fernández, Santiago & Junqueira, André Braga, 2024. "Indigenous and local knowledge on social-ecological changes is positively associated with livelihood resilience in a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    16. Abre-Rehmat Qurat-ul-Ann & Faisal Mehmood Mirza, 2021. "Multidimensional Energy Poverty in Pakistan: Empirical Evidence from Household Level Micro Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 211-258, May.
    17. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2021. "Regional employment support programs and multidimensional poverty of youth in Turkey," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(4), pages 583-609, December.
    18. Sunil Khosla & Pradyot Ranjan Jena, 2022. "Analyzing vulnerability to poverty and assessing the role of universal public works and food security programs to reduce it: Evidence from an eastern Indian state," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 2296-2316, November.
    19. Huynh Ngoc Chuong, 2025. "The Role of Livelihood Capitals on Rural Households' Livelihood Strategy in Vietnam: New Sensitivity Analysis From Bayesian Network Approach," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    20. Meyer, Maximilian & Hulke, Carolin & Kamwi, Jonathan & Kolem, Hannah & Börner, Jan, 2022. "Spatially heterogeneous effects of collective action on environmental dependence in Namibia’s Zambezi region," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6866-:d:1712032. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.