Income diversification among fishing communities in western Kenya.

摘要

Fisheries represent an important component of the renewable natural resources sector in many developing countries. Regardless of the key role played by fisheries, fishing communities in developing countries remain among the poorest communities. Two reasons may explain the high rate of poverty among the fishing communities: declining fish resources; and lack of access to alternative income-generating opportunities. It may be contended that in practice, it is the lack of access to alternative income-generating opportunities which is the principal cause of poverty among the fishing communities, rather than the declining fish resources per se. As a result, this study investigates the degree, determinants and welfare impacts of income diversification among the fishing communities, with a focus on those living on the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria.;The academic and research contribution of this study is four-fold. First, the study contributes to the literature on income diversification by evaluating the determinants and welfare impacts of income diversification among fishing communities. Secondly, the study develops a theoretical model that explains income diversification behaviour of fish workers. Thirdly, the study applies propensity score matching to evaluate the impact of income diversification on the welfare of fishing communities, which is a deviation from past studies on income diversification. In addition to other advantages, propensity score matching gives more consistent and realistic estimates compared to other methods used to undertake impact analysis. Finally, information generated from this study contributes to the literature on the potential strategies that can be used to improve the welfare of fishing communities in developing countries.;The study finds that around 26 percent of fish workers diversify income into farm work or non-agricultural work. In addition, individual characteristics, fish work characteristics, locational factors, barriers to income diversification and variability of fish income explain income diversification behaviour of fish workers. The results also show that income diversification improves the welfare of the fish workers, through higher incomes. There is, therefore, need to encourage income diversification by improving accessibility to credit, promoting membership in associations such as cooperatives societies and women groups, and providing adult education to fish workers.