Participation in NonFarm Activities in Rural Sudan: Patterns and Determinants
Date
2019-10-03
Authors
. Ebaidalla, Ebaidalla M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research consortium
Abstract
Despite the importance of non-farm income in the livelihood of the rural
population in Sudan, information available on its size and determinants is
scant. This study examined the patterns and determinants of decisions to
participate in non-farm activities in rural Sudan. It also investigates whether
the determinants of participation in non-farm activities vary across agriculture
sub-sectors and income groups as well as among males and females. The data
for this study was sourced from the Sudanese National Baseline Household
Survey (NBHS) conducted by Sudan’s Central Bureau of Statistics in 2009. The
results show that non-farm income is a crucial source of livelihood, contributing about 43% to household income in rural Sudan. The results of multinomial logit and
probit estimation methods indicate that educational level, mean of transportation,
lack of land and lack of access to formal credit are the most significant factors that
push rural farmers to participate in non-farm activities. Surprisingly, the effect of
household income was positive and significant, implying that individuals from rich
households have higher opportunity to engage in non-farm activities compared to
their poor counterparts. Moreover, the analysis revealed some symptoms of gender
and location disparities in the effect of factors that influence participation in non-farm
activities. The study concluded with some recommendations that aim to enhance
the engagement in non-farm activities as an important diversification strategy to
complement the role of the agriculture sector in improving rural economy in Sudan.