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Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

Livelihood diversification Strategies: On-farm diversification in the Millennium Village Project in Malawi

The exchange experience in Malawi (March-May 2010) aimed at gathering data and information for the master dissertation in development studies at the Graduate Institute of Geneva. This research focused on the on-farm diversification strategies and its determinants for rural populations. It analyzed the mechanisms, motivations and pathways through which such diversification strategies are adopted in rural areas, while taking in consideration the influence of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) on such strategies.

The field experience consisted in four weeks of primary data collection through a survey and two weeks of information gathering on the MVP project through consultation with the staff. This experience has reached its main objectives of gathering data through the collaboration with the project staff and through a survey on the diversification activities of Malawian farms. It has provided with a valuable hindsight in the Malawian culture and the social organization of the life in the rural areas. The main findings from the research have stemmed from the direct experience in the field which has allowed for an understanding of the complexity of factors that influence the decision making process of farm households, and as a consequence the configuration of the diversification strategies that are adopted in the effort of building a sustainable livelihood.

Contacts

Ina Verzivolli
MA in Development studies
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, IHEID
Tel: +41 (0) 795 385 600
Email: ina.verzivolli@graduateinstitute.ch

Christophe Gironde
Chargé de cours
Graduate Institute of Development and International Studies, IHIED
Tel: +41 (0) 22 908 4516
Email: christophe.gironde@graduateinstitute.ch

Agnes Chimbiri
Millennium Development Goals Cluster Leader
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Malawi
P.O Box 30135, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Tel: +265 1 773 50
Email: agnes.chimbiri@undp.org

1. One of the interviewed farmers, in front of her house. Interviews were conducted in April-May 2010, time when farmers in Malawi harvest the maize from their munda (main seasonal plot of land).
One of the interviewed farmers, in front of her house. Interviews were conducted in April-May 2010, time when farmers in Malawi harvest the maize from their munda (main seasonal plot of land).

1. After an interview with a young couple, which married last September and 2009/2010 was their first harvesting season as a family.
After an interview with a young couple, which married last September and 2009/2010 was their first harvesting season as a family.


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		Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires" Livelihood diversification Strategies: On-farm diversification in the Millennium Village Project in Malawi The exchange experience in Malawi (March-May 2010) aimed at gathering data and information for the master dissertation in development studies at the Graduate Institute of Geneva. This research focused on the on-farm diversification strategies and its determinants for rural populations. It analyzed the mechanisms, motivations and pathways through which such diversification strategies are adopted in rural areas, while taking in consideration the influence of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) on such strategies. The field experience consisted in four weeks of primary data collection through a survey and two weeks of information gathering on the MVP project through consultation with the staff. This experience has reached its main objectives of gathering data through the collaboration with the project staff and through a survey on the diversification activities of Malawian farms. It has provided with a valuable hindsight in the Malawian culture and the social organization of the life in the rural areas. The main findings from the research have stemmed from the direct experience in the field which has allowed for an understanding of the complexity of factors that influence the decision making process of farm households, and as a consequence the configuration of the diversification strategies that are adopted in the effort of building a sustainable livelihood. Contacts Ina Verzivolli MA in Development studies Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, IHEID Tel: +41 (0) 795 385 600 Email: ina.verzivolli@graduateinstitute.ch Christophe Gironde Chargé de cours Graduate Institute of Development and International Studies, IHIED Tel: +41 (0) 22 908 4516 Email: christophe.gironde@graduateinstitute.ch Agnes Chimbiri Millennium Development Goals Cluster Leader United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Malawi P.O Box 30135, Lilongwe 3, Malawi Tel: +265 1 773 50 Email: agnes.chimbiri@undp.org One of the interviewed farmers, in front of her house. Interviews were conducted in April-May 2010, time when farmers in Malawi harvest the maize from their munda (main seasonal plot of land). After an interview with a young couple, which married last September and 2009/2010 was their first harvesting season as a family.