Understanding rural livelihoods in the West Coast District, South Africa

Abstract

This article applies the sustainable rural livelihoods approach to purposefully collect and analyse data on how the rural poor live and work in South Africa's West Coast District. The findings offer insights into the livelihoods and needs of rural households and offer vital lessons for pro-poor agrarian reform and rural development policies. Agricultural and non-farm rural households rely on a mix of livelihood sources such as wage employment, agricultural activities and social grants. Livelihood assets are unequally distributed among farmers, farm workers and non-farm rural households. Whereas some land reform beneficiary farmers appear to be accumulating wealth (land, livestock and some financial capital), workers dependent on local agricultural labour markets are trapped in asset poverty. Effective agrarian policies should be grounded in a solid understanding of the land-based livelihood strategies and aspirations of the rural poor.

Keywords:

• sustainable rural livelihoods approach
• rural development
• agrarian policy
• civil society organisation

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Surplus People Project (SPP), an NGO working with rural communities, for initiating and sponsoring this research, and Laetitia Louw and Stephen Heyns for their help with revising this article. In case of any remaining errors, the usual disclaimers apply.

Notes

¹ For a diagram and full explanation of the ‘capitals pentagon’ concept, see Ellis (2000:49).