IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i2d10.1007_s10668-023-04427-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Escaping chronic poverty: long-term impacts of an agricultural development program

Author

Listed:
  • Inga Mareike Nienkerke

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Yogesh Sawant

    (BAIF)

  • Jonas Jörin

    (Singapore-ETH Centre)

  • Anish Holla

    (Kansas State University)

  • Anthony Patt

    (ETH Zürich)

Abstract

There is a need for groundbreaking initiatives to come to the rescue of the world’s rain-fed regions, especially in the face of the current climate and food crises and the associated reversal of previous advances in poverty reduction. However, there is little evidence of successful programs, which can inform the development of proactive policies to meet these urgent challenges. Can sustainable agricultural intensification enable marginalized, smallholder farmers to break out of chronic poverty? In this study, we scrutinize the Wadi concept, an integrated farming system that includes water resource development, soil conservation, cultivation of fruit trees, and intercropping on degraded land. We use a mixed-methods approach that involves surveying 1860 households, which were randomly sampled from a population of 188,231 participants across four Indian states, encompassing a variety of geographical regions. This is the first investigation into the effects of integrated farming systems on livelihoods on such a large scale and spanning 23 years. We compare the household participants of the program with the non-participants and run a linear regression analysis, ceteris paribus, comparing farmers who established integrated farming systems at different points in time over the period 1990–2017. Significant progress in several socioeconomic factors can be observed, such as higher incomes (the annual income of a typical participant has increased from INR 30,000 to 100,000 or even more), diversified income sources, positive life changes, higher life satisfaction and better perspectives for children, as well as environmental benefits. The Wadi program’s effectiveness in providing sustainable development pathways implies benefits to be gained from scaling it up. By thoroughly assessing its potential to help farmers escape chronic poverty and build resilience, this study provides evidence of the Wadi concept’s success that can enrich the science-policy dialog on development programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Inga Mareike Nienkerke & Yogesh Sawant & Jonas Jörin & Anish Holla & Anthony Patt, 2025. "Escaping chronic poverty: long-term impacts of an agricultural development program," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 5073-5093, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04427-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04427-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-04427-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-04427-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thorat, Amit & Vanneman, Reeve & Desai, Sonalde & Dubey, Amaresh, 2017. "Escaping and Falling into Poverty in India Today," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 413-426.
    2. Asadullah, M. Niaz & Yalonetzky, Gaston, 2012. "Inequality of Educational Opportunity in India: Changes Over Time and Across States," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1151-1163.
    3. World Bank, 2020. "Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2020," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 34496, April.
    4. James Roumasset, 2004. "Rural Institutions, Agricultural Development, and Pro-Poor Economic Growth," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 1(1), pages 61-82, June.
    5. Scott Rozelle & Jikun Huang & Syed Arif Husain & Aaron Zazueta, 2000. "China : From Afforestation to Poverty Alleviation and Natural Forest Management," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 20394, April.
    6. Nienkerke, Inga Mareike & Thorat, Amit & Patt, Anthony, 2023. "From distress migration to selective migration: Transformative effects of agricultural development on seasonal migration," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    7. Christopher B. Barrett & Michael R. Carter & C. Peter Timmer, 2010. "A Century-Long Perspective on Agricultural Development," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 92(2), pages 447-468.
    8. Vibeke Bjornlund & Henning Bjornlund & Andre F. Van Rooyen, 2020. "Why agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains low compared to the rest of the world – a historical perspective," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(S1), pages 20-53, October.
    9. Turner, Matthew D. & Carney, Tanya & Lawler, Laura & Reynolds, Julia & Kelly, Lauren & Teague, Molly S. & Brottem, Leif, 2021. "Environmental rehabilitation and the vulnerability of the poor: The case of the Great Green Wall," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    10. Kapur Mehta, Aasha & Shah, Amita, 2003. "Chronic Poverty in India: Incidence, Causes and Policies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 491-511, March.
    11. Steve Wiggins, 2014. "African Agricultural Development: Lessons and Challenges," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(3), pages 529-556, September.
    12. Bhattacharya, Prodyut & Pradhan, Lolita & Yadav, Ganesh, 2010. "Joint forest management in India: Experiences of two decades," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 469-480.
    13. Jamie Pittock & Henning Bjornlund & André van Rooyen, 2020. "Transforming failing smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa: a theory of change," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(S1), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Eric A. Coleman & Bill Schultz & Vijay Ramprasad & Harry Fischer & Pushpendra Rana & Anthony M. Filippi & Burak Güneralp & Andong Ma & Claudia Rodriguez Solorzano & Vijay Guleria & Rajesh Rana & Forre, 2021. "Limited effects of tree planting on forest canopy cover and rural livelihoods in Northern India," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 997-1004, November.
    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. 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.
    2. Rishi Kumar, 2022. "Household poverty dynamics in tribal Madhya Pradesh, India: A case study of 54 villages," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(2), pages 184-203, June.
    3. Nienkerke, Inga Mareike & Thorat, Amit & Patt, Anthony, 2023. "From distress migration to selective migration: Transformative effects of agricultural development on seasonal migration," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    4. Emelie Rohne Till, 2021. "A green revolution in sub‐Saharan Africa? The transformation of Ethiopia's agricultural sector," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 277-315, March.
    5. Frederick Nsambu Kijjambu & Benjamin Musiita & Asaph Kaburura Katarangi & Geoffrey Kahangane & Sheilla Akampwera, 2023. "Determinants of Uganda’s Debt Sustainability: The Public Debt Dynamics Model in Perspective," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 15(4), pages 106-124.
    6. Dostie, Benoit & Jayaraman, Rajshri, 2006. "Determinants of School Enrollment in Indian Villages," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 54(2), pages 405-421, January.
    7. Pape, Utz & Verme, Paolo, 2023. "Measuring Poverty in Forced Displacement Contexts," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1245, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    8. Sylvain Dessy & Luca Tiberti & Marco Tiberti & David Zoundi, 2024. "Coping with Drought in Village Economies: The Role of Polygyny," Working Papers - Economics wp2024_13.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    9. Sushanta K. Mallick, 2014. "Disentangling the Poverty Effects of Sectoral Output, Prices, and Policies in India," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 60(4), pages 773-801, December.
    10. Sunderlin, William D. & Dewi, Sonya & Puntodewo, Atie & Müller, Daniel & Angelsen, Arild & Epprecht, Michael, 2008. "Why forests are important for global poverty alleviation: A spatial explanation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(2).
    11. Adom, Philip Kofi & Adams, Samuel, 2020. "Decomposition of technical efficiency in agricultural production in Africa into transient and persistent technical efficiency under heterogeneous technologies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    12. Gibbon, Gwili E.M. & Dallimer, Martin & Golo, Hassan & Munene, Humphrey & Wandera, Charlene A. & Edson, Monda N. & Gachura, Jane C. & Hobbs, Tim & Ihwagi, Festus & Ikhamati, Stephen R. & Ikiara, Samso, 2024. "Structured decision-making shows broad support from diverse stakeholders for habitat conservation and restoration in Kenya’s Central Highlands," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Jamil, Abd Rahim Md. & Law, Siong Hook & Mohamad Khair-Afham, M.S. & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2023. "Financial inclusion and economic uncertainty in developing countries: The role of digitalisation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 786-806.
    14. Sedai, Ashish Kumar & Jamasb, Tooraj & Nepal, Rabindra & Miller, Ray, 2021. "Electrification and welfare for the marginalized: Evidence from India," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    15. Ofori, Isaac K. & Dossou, Marcel A.M. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Armah, Mark K., 2023. "Bridging Africa’s income inequality gap: How relevant is China’s outward FDI to Africa?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    16. Joshua Adeyemi Afolabi & Isiaka Akande Raifu, 2025. "Toward economic resilience in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of institutional quality and human capital development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 2566-2578, April.
    17. Sonali Jain-Chandra & Tidiane Kinda & Kalpana Kochhar & Shi Piao & Johanna Schauer, 2019. "Sharing the Growth Dividend: Analysis of Inequality in Asia," Journal of Banking and Financial Economics, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(12), pages 5-28, September.
    18. Mossie, Mengistie & Gerezgiher, Alemseged & Ayalew, Zemen & Nigussie, Zerihun, 2021. "Welfare effects of small-scale farmers' participation in apple and mango value chains in Ethiopia," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 60(2), May.
    19. Surbhi Kesar, 2023. "Economic transition, dualism and informality in India: Nature and patterns of household‐level transitions," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 2438-2469, November.
    20. Vachaspati Shukla, 2021. "Group Disparities in Educational Outcomes: An Age Cohort Perspective," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 15(2), pages 334-352, August.

    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:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04427-y. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.