Working Poor? A Study of Rural Workers' Economic Welfare in Kenya. (9th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fibaek, Maria Mwaipopo
• Is Part Of: Journal of international development. Volume 33:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2020-09-09
• Subjects: wages -- employment -- rural Africa -- large‐scale farming -- poverty; Economic development projects -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Foreign economic relations -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; 330.91724
• DOI: 10.1002/jid.3511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-1748

Abstract

Abstract: This study employs a mixed methods approach to investigate the poverty reduction potential of large‐scale farm employment in Kenya. A long‐run time series of real agricultural wages is created. The quantitative data are supplemented by life‐story interviews of agricultural workers. The analysis suggests that large‐scale farm employment can serve as a route out of deep poverty. However, to prevent wages from falling below the subsistence level, there is a need for a balanced rural development strategy whereby investments in smallholder agriculture and skills upgrades accompany the expansion of commercial agriculture. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd