Unpicking the Inter-relationships Between Off-Farm Livelihood Diversification, Household Characteristics, and Farm Management in the Rural Andes

Rural households across the world are increasingly turning to off-farm sources of income complement or replace farm income. A better understanding these livelihood adaptations, their consequences, and processes behind them will facilitate more effective rural development policies projects. The objective this research was examine how influences livelihoods, elucidate factors that determine different strategies, as well understand strategies associated with approaches management. Using data from 588 Household Multi-Indicator Surveys (RHoMIS) in three Andean regions Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, we identified a typology farming household assessed differences among types regard level characteristics, We found incorporated into there were significant Specifically, observed an increased use industrialized techniques one type, deintensification, stepping-out activities another tendency toward livestock specialization other type. Moreover, our findings revealed characteristics (age education head(s) household, composition) played important role mediating which type strategy employed. For example, “stepping-out” generally had younger educated heads. Location-specific such access markets, irrigation, employment opportunities also likely be highly influential terms pathways adopted strategy. conclude programmes projects must driven by communities themselves taking account heterogeneity livelihoods engaging already advanced conversations around conservation common natural resources.