Relevance of livestock for poverty graduation in rural areas of Balochistan-evidence from longitudinal study under EU funded BRACE program

Abstract

Poverty is a very serious global issue especially with reference to the under developed countries. Different initiatives re being taken by the governments and NGOs to deal with this issue. This research article examines the results of the longitudinal study - the Participatory Action Research on Dynamics of Household Poverty and Inclusive Development in Balochistan with a Focus on Women’s Empowerment – in three districts of Balochistan to highlight how interventions helped ultra-poor households to break out of the severe poverty circle. Apart from other interventions, availability of livestock can help the ultra-poor landless rural people, especially women, in graduating out of severe poverty, even in the face of conservative familial structures and limited economic activity. Lack of assets, especially for the female population of the province, have been identified as the main barriers for ultra-poor households in graduating to the next level of poverty.

Keywords: Poverty, Rural Area, Sustainable Development, Women Empowerment