Pages: 1-7

Abstract

The study analyzed the factors affecting sustainability of non-farm livelihood activities ‎among rural families in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The ‎specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of ‎the respondents, identify the non-farm livelihood activities of rural families and ascertain ‎the factors affecting sustainability of non-farm livelihood activities among families in the ‎study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 105 family-heads from a ‎total of 350 family-heads in the study area. A structured and validated interview schedule ‎was used to collect data from the respondents. Data collected were presented using mean, ‎frequency, percentage factor analysis. The result indicated that the non-farm livelihood ‎strategies of families in the study area include, trading (mean=3.98), commercial taxi ‎services (mean=3.91), bicycle and motor cycle repair services (mean=3.71), ‎tailoring/weaving (mean=3.53), barbing/hairdressing services (mean=2.85), carpentry ‎‎(mean=3.33), mason and building (mean=3.34), food vending (mean=3.19). The factors ‎affecting sustainability of non-farm livelihood activities include inadequate infrastructural ‎facilities, instability, and low income to investment. It is concluded that non-farm livelihood ‎activities in the study area are sustainable. Therefore it is recommended that continued ‎effort on the provision of basic rural infrastructures should be intensified through a ‎coordinated and sustainable rural development drive by groups, communities, government ‎and non-governmental agencies‎‎‎.