Measuring the livelihood vulnerability index of a dry region in Indonesia: A case study of three subsistence communities in West Timor
World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development
ISSN: 2042-5945
Article publication date: 3 October 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the study of sustainable rural livelihoods by developing a model to measure vulnerability of subsistence communities in dryland regions and identifying the major determinants that contribute to the livelihood vulnerability of these communities.
Design/methodology/approach
The author conducted a household survey across three subsistence communities in West Timor (n=627), from June to November 2013. Based on the guideline of the OECD (2008), the author developed a series of indicators and constructed a composite index to measure the vulnerability of dryland communities. The author adapted the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) measure from Hahn et al. (2009) but refined it by using Shannon’s entropy method in deciding the weights of indicators and statistically tested the correlation between indicators using Kendall’s correlations.
Findings
Six major determinants were identified: education (EDU), children’s participation in agriculture (CPA), agricultural income (AI), subsistence food reserve (SUBSIST), social-cultural participation (SCP) and access to water, health clinic and market (ACC). LVI in all communities shows significant and strong relationships with SCP (0.594, p<0.01), AI (0.545, p<0.01) and CPA (0.434, p<0.01). This signifies that constraints to engage in social gatherings, market the harvest and obtain additional labour input are currently the major contributor to the vulnerability in these communities.
Research limitations/implications
Shannon’s entropy is one of the methods for assisting in making decision (ranking) objectively. The results may need to be tested further using other methods.
Practical implications
Using objective weight provides additional information useful for identifying and prioritising areas (sub-components) which require attention and appropriate solutions to prevent households from further impoverishment and increased vulnerability.
Social implications
Livelihood vulnerability of subsistence community in dry region is closely related to local survival skills and customs. Differences in the level of vulnerability across communities are due not only to geographical location and physical infrastructure, but also the leadership of local customary leaders and village government in looking for ways to improve the livelihoods of community members.
Originality/value
This paper is based on part of the results of a PhD thesis supported and approved by Griffith University. It has not been published before.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge her two supervisors, Associate Professor Moazzem Hossain and Dr Peter Davey, for their support in assisting her research and writing of this paper. Also, the author would like to express her gratitude to the local hosts, local guide and the communities in the three research sites for their participation and hospitality during his data collection period in West Timor. Finally, the author thanks both reviewers for their insightful comments on the paper that led to an improvement of the work.
Citation
Tjoe, Y. (2016), "Measuring the livelihood vulnerability index of a dry region in Indonesia: A case study of three subsistence communities in West Timor", World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 250-274. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-01-2016-0013
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited