Livelihoods Diversification and Enterprise Development Sub-Programme
Between the Household and the Market:
A Livelihoods Analysis of SPFS-Promoted Seed Multiplication in Eastern
Guatemala
By Patrizio Warren* Department of Anthropology Università degli Studi "La Sapienza", Roma, April 2005
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) An inter-departmental programme for improving support for enhancing
livelihoods of the rural poor
* From the Dipartimento di studi glotto-antropologici, Universitá degli
Studi di Roma. The research on which this paper is based was carried out in
the framework of a micro-project supported by FAO/DFID’s "Livelihoods Support
Programme" (Sub-programme: "Livelihoods Diversification and Enterprise Development").
Front page photo: SPFS Guatemala
Disclaimer: "This paper was prepared under contract with the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The positions and
opinions presented are those of the author alone, and are not intended to represent
the views of FAO"
Abstract
In order to strengthen the capacity of SPFS-Guatemala to incorporate
livelihoods analysis in the systematization of "good practices", an action-research
exercise was carried out in November to December 2004, which focused on
maize and bean certified seed multiplication in one project site.
This paper describes the overall vulnerability context and the processes
of change to which the participants and the indirect beneficiaries of
seed multiplication are exposed in that particular location.
The changes in household livelihoods that might be associated with the
adoption of seed multiplication activities are documented here. The paper
explores the economic and cultural logic that has facilitated the incorporation
of this "good practice" into the participants’ livelihood strategies.
Finally, it illustrates the livelihood outcomes of seed multiplication
in 2004 and suggests some measures that could lead to the scaling-up of
these activities from household livelihood diversification to fully-fledged
rural enterprise development.
The Livelihood Support Programme
The Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) evolved from the belief
that FAO could have a greater impact on reducing poverty and food insecurity, if
its wealth of talent and experience were integrated into a more flexible and
demand-responsive team approach.
The LSP works through teams of FAO staff members, who are
attracted to specific themes being worked on in a sustainable livelihoods
context. These cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary teams act to integrate
sustainable livelihoods principles in FAO’s work, at headquarters and in
the field. These approaches build on experiences within FAO and other
development agencies.
The programme is functioning as a testing ground for both team
approaches and sustainable livelihoods principles.
More information on the LSP is to be found on the last page of
this document.
The Livelihoods Diversification and Enterprise Development
Sub-Programme (LDED)
The Livelihoods Diversification and Enterprise Development
(LDED) sub-programme aims to improve the effectiveness of FAO in addressing the
needs and interests of poor people in livelihood diversification programmes and
projects. The objectives of LDED are:
a. To appraise inhibiting and enabling factors,
and approaches supporting livelihoods diversification and enterprise
development.
b. To catalyze and facilitate innovative practices for
supporting livelihoods diversification.
c. To increase inter-disciplinarity and learning in FAO and
partner agencies for supporting livelihoods diversification and enterprise
development.
The LDED will add value to FAO’s regular programme and
projects with a particular focus on addressing obstacles and promoting
opportunities for people. It will capitalize on existing FAO strengths related
to LDED in addition to identifying and addressing gaps related to livelihoods
diversification and enterprise development.
