Determinants of rural household income diversification in Senegal and Kenya

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of income diversification using data on rural farm households from two Sub-Saharan African countries; Senegal and Kenya. Data were analyzed using regression techniques. The results confirm that factors linked to education, agricultural potential and market access was important in determining the level of income diversification. Specifically, the analysis reveals that completing secondary or university education, access to farm capital and access to transport, access to markets for farm products, access to mutual or unpaid labor, access to migration opportunities and farm characteristics such as the farm size and irrigated farm area were the key factors in determining the level of income diversification. In particular, access to farm capital such as animal ploughs and irrigation were associated with increased participation in farm activities. (Résumé d'auteur