Livelihood assets and survival strategies in coastal communities in Kerala, India

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dc.contributor.authorDivakarannair, Nandakumar
dc.contributor.supervisorFlaherty, Mark
dc.date.accessioned2007-11-30T00:42:05Z
dc.date.available2007-11-30T00:42:05Z
dc.date.copyright2007en_US
dc.date.issued2007-11-30T00:42:05Z
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy Ph.D.en_US
dc.description.abstractMarine fish stocks are under serious threat of depletion due to increasing numbers of resource users with competing interests, resulting in degradation and the decline of fish catch. Using qualitative and quantitative techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys and remote sensing and GIS, this study addresses: (1) the complex and inter-related nature of resource dependency, (2) the role of assets in determining survival strategies of households in artisanal fishing communities in Ponnani, India, (3) how asset degradation impacts resource-dependent households, (4) how households develop survival strategies, and (5) considers access to social, political, physical, human and financial assets. Information is organized using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) with modifications to suite the local complexities. Results show that households - engaged in diverse activities, including fishing, fish processing/marketing/culture and daily labour - evolved property rights of natural resources over generations. The Pathemari cargo business’s limited knowledge of fisheries compared to artisanal fishers, and the government led modernization resulted in resource degradation. Therefore, artisanal fishers living in coastal wards threatened by intense erosion, abandoned traditional occupations in pursuit of livelihood security. Results from image analysis and derived thematic maps indicate increased erosion of 0.35 sq km shoreline coinciding with government development initiatives. To improve livelihood options, the results indicate that 50% surveyed accessed political assets such as fishers’ cooperatives and only 20% accessed financial assets such as government sponsored schemes and loans. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions revealed many limiting factors of access, specifically marginalization and lack of financial assets: only 6% surveyed could raise enough money to migrate. With changes in technology, from harvesting to processing, gender roles are being radically altered. Women are losing jobs and income. Politically, the study revealed that local participation helped governing bodies prioritize on housing, roads, water and sanitation. Analysis of the information through the modified SLF suggests three strategies to enhance the asset base of coastal poor: strengthening grassroots organizations; transforming state relations; and developing new alternatives to conventional coastal development practice. Finally, the study suggests resource management policies to improve the households’ livelihood options and well-being.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/260
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectArtisanal fishingen_US
dc.subjectFishing communitiesen_US
dc.subjectLivelihoodsen_US
dc.subjectLivelihood strategiesen_US
dc.subjectKeralaen_US
dc.subjectIndiaen_US
dc.subjectNatural resourcesen_US
dc.subjectResource dependencyen_US
dc.subjectFish resourcesen_US
dc.subjectMarine fish stocksen_US
dc.subjectResource depletionen_US
dc.subjectResource degradationen_US
dc.subjectPonnanien_US
dc.subjectMalappuramen_US
dc.subjectIn-depth interviewen_US
dc.subjectFocus group discussionen_US
dc.subjectHousehold surveyen_US
dc.subjectRemote sensingen_US
dc.subjectGISen_US
dc.subjectMulti-methoden_US
dc.subjectSustainable Livelihoods Frameworken_US
dc.subjectProperty righrtsen_US
dc.subjectPathemarien_US
dc.subjectChapaen_US
dc.subjectLivelihood securityen_US
dc.subjectPanchayaten_US
dc.subjectGenderen_US
dc.subjectDecentralized planningen_US
dc.subjectQualitative methodsen_US
dc.subjectPovertyen_US
dc.subjectWell-beingen_US
dc.subjectOccupational diversificationen_US
dc.subjectSmall-scale fishingen_US
dc.subjectCaste systemen_US
dc.subjectHuman assetsen_US
dc.subjectPolitical assetsen_US
dc.subjectSocial assetsen_US
dc.subjectPhysical assetsen_US
dc.subjectFinancial assetsen_US
dc.subjectPush factorsen_US
dc.subjectVulnerabilityen_US
dc.subject.lcshUVic Subject Index::Humanities and Social Sciences::Social Sciences::Geographyen_US
dc.titleLivelihood assets and survival strategies in coastal communities in Kerala, Indiaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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