A portfolio perspective of rural livelihoods in Bushbuckridge, South Africa

Land-based income streams, which include the consumption and selling of crops, livestock and environmental products, are inherent in rural households&rsquo; livelihoods. However, the off-farm cash income stream &ndash; primarily composed of migrant labour remittances, social grants, and savings and loans &ndash; is increasing in importance in many regions. This case study of 590 households from Bushbuckridge, South Africa, analyses the economic value of each of these income streams at three points: what enters the household, what is used and what is sold. Two important findings emerge. First, dependence on offfarm cash incomes is far higher than previously suggested by case studies in the area and the benefits of employment accrue to those already better educated and wealthier. This suggests that shifts in offfarm opportunities will exacerbate already deep inequalities. Second, while environmental products and crops are important for direct use, they generate insignificant cash incomes from sales. This suggests a weakening of the direct links between the local ecosystem and this society, challenging traditional notions of African rurality being intrinsically land based.</p