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‘From Plot to People’: A Photovoice Exploration of South Asian Farmer Livelihood Diversification Strategies When Extra Time and Money are Found Through Zero Tillage Adoption

Author

Listed:
  • Brendan Brown
  • Akriti Sharma
  • Emma Karki
  • Anjana Chaudhary

Abstract

Impact evaluations are dominated by the application of development economics to assess the direct impacts of change at the plot level, while studies that focus on the impact of such plot-level changes on livelihoods remain rare. This raises questions about the ‘so-what’ of the adoption of labour and money-saving practices such as Zero Tillage to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Piloting a qualitative photovoice methodology with 25 South Asian households, the priorities and strategies of resource-poor South Asian smallholder farmers are explored when they have freed time and financial resources available. Various activities related to agricultural and livelihood diversification are linked by informants to broader impacts on their resilience, life satisfaction and broader livelihood outcomes. Despite being a pilot qualitative study, results indicate that cereal system intensification may be synergistic and not antagonistic to crop and livelihood diversification, especially if framed in whole-of-livelihood-focused initiatives that look for opportunities to utilize saved resources. Likewise, the value of humanizing research through qualitative participatory methods that centre ‘people rather than plots’ is highlighted through the broad linkages that informants identified from their diverse livelihood strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan Brown & Akriti Sharma & Emma Karki & Anjana Chaudhary, 2023. "‘From Plot to People’: A Photovoice Exploration of South Asian Farmer Livelihood Diversification Strategies When Extra Time and Money are Found Through Zero Tillage Adoption," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 18(2), pages 193-220, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:soudev:v:18:y:2023:i:2:p:193-220
    DOI: 10.1177/09731741221141151
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jing Zhang & Jingchun Wang & Yafei Li & Yueying Mu, 2025. "Time Allocation Effect: How Does the Combined Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Technologies Affect Income?," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, April.

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