Natural Resource Management in Semi-arid Regions

Abstract

As many of the poor in developing countries depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, agricultural development is widely regarded as a viable strategy for reducing poverty and conservation of the natural resource base. This recognition has necessitated a wide range of interventions to increase the productivity of agriculture and enhance food security in poor areas. Despite such efforts and the increased momentum towards globalization, along with increasing scarcity of land and water resources, poverty and resource degradation have increased in some marginalized areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A number of studies in recent times have postulated a self-reinforcing downward spiral between poverty, population pressure, and natural resource degradation. These interlinkages seem to be valid for certain arid and semi-arid areas with fragile and marginal environments where biophysical and socioeconomic constraints limit investment opportunities. With emphasis on semi-arid rainfed areas, this study examines the livelihood-environment linkages in light of the existing theories and empirical evidence; synthesizes major lessons; suggests research and policy implications; and advances a more holistic and interdisciplinary analytical framework for understanding the most limiting structural constraints, farmer decision behavior, and investment strategies.