Assessment of Rural Household Income in Northern Province of Zambia: A Comparative Study of Two Communities

A majority of rural households in Zambia depend entirely on agricultural production for their livelihood. Low production levels and poor marketing can put these households at an economic disadvantage. This paper examines income levels, the contribution of different sources of income, and the extent of income diversification of rural households in two communities in the Mporokoso district of Northern Province, Zambia. In addition, the paper examines people's perception of their earnings and the possibilities for increasing them. For this purpose, data were collected in a survey of household demographic characteristics, monetary income by source, agricultural production, and perceptions of livelihood. In addition, direct interviews were conducted to identify perceived problems with income-generating activities. Using this information, three types of analyses were conducted: (1) a comparative analysis between the two communities to determine income sources and diversification; (2) an econometric analysis of income earnings as related to human capital, family workforce, land, and other household characteristics; and (3) a problem tree (cause-effect) analysis. The analyses indicate that, to sustain income growth in these and similar areas, cultivation of more beans and groundnuts should be promoted through improving soil fertility and expanding the area under cultivation. Livestock development would also contribute to enhanced household income through animal sales , enable expand cultivated area and manure provision to sustain crop production.