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Employment in non-farm activities has become an important
aspect of the lives of a large number of people in the rural
areas of Sri Lanka as in several other developing countries.
While this is basically an economic phenomenon, it has an
important social aspect because those affected are mostly
the rural poor. For the growing numbers of these people
who are not being absorbed fast enough in agriculture or
in urban-based industry, and are actually obliged to leave
the land partially or fully, non-farm activities are perforce
a part of their personal survival strategies. The pattern
of employment that has so resulted is as complex as the
conditions and factors that have given rise to this variety
of activities. Analytically, the resultant employment situation
signifies structural impoverishment and current trends point
to its possible deepening. It is in this setting that rural
non-farm (r n-f) employment has emerged in Sri Lanka, as
in certain other developing countries, as a theme around
which study, analysis and action can be organised. Yet,
a fuller understanding of the issues has been hampered by
a paucity of data and a failure to develop appropriate perspectives.
This paper which is structured in seven
sections attempts to develop some useful perspectives, to
provide a better understanding of the issues by assembling
and interpreting a wealth of data found scattered in numerous
sources, and to present a strategy for the promotion of
r n-f employment. Sections one and two, which focus on the
macro-level issues, analyse the evolution of the r n-f sector
and forecast its likely course in terms of its underlying
factors. Sections three and four move on to the micro and
household levels to observe how the r n-f sector currently
operates by analysing patterns of activities, their determinants
and the characteristics of family labour participation in
the sector. Section five analyses structural patterns and
focuses on structural changes and trends over time, while
section six delves into the critically important demand-side
issues. Section seven works towards a demand-led development
strategy, which is theoretically well-grounded and practically
feasible, for the r n-f sector.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Factors underlying the rural non-farm sector and
its evolution
- The likely future course of the r n-f sector
- The incidence determinants and patterns of r n-f
activities
- Characteristics of household participation in
r n-f activities
- Structural patterns of r n-f employment: Their
changes and trends
- Sources and nature of demand for r n-f goods and
services: Problems, issues and policy implications
- Towards a rural employment strategy incorporating
the r n-f sector
- References
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