The potential for creating additional rural livelihoods in agriculture and the rural non-farm sector in semi-arid areas : a case study in the Northern Province

Abstract

The aim of the chapter is to estimate the potential for creating additional livelihoods in a typical semi-arid area under various assumptions about farm activities, farm size and technology. The perception that agriculture in semi-arid areas has limited potential to create additional livelihoods was confirmed by the results of the research. In acknowledging that rural households earn income from other sources than agriculture, attention was paid to the important contribution of rural non-farm enterprises.