In the realm of trade, there exists a long tradition of labelling products with the emphasis on their place of origin to convey their quality. These products with Geographical Indications (GIs) tag, in the parlance of intellectual property rights, indicate the link between the geographic location and the product and represent the collective rights of the territory-specific communities that are engaged in the production of that commodity. With its entry into the World Trade Organization, India has implemented GI within a legal framework. Through select case studies of products like textiles and crafts in South India, Regional Products and Rural Livelihoods looks at the ramifications of GI implementation at macro and micro levels. It explores the involvement of stakeholders with respect to the reputation of a place/community and the institutional challenges that emerge in the process of GI implementation. This volume highlights the need for collective action by stakeholders to actualize economic gains through GI and analyses its possible outcomes, such as improved livelihoods for producers and authentic products for the consumers.

Seasonality is a severe constraint to sustainable rural livelihoods and a driver of poverty and hunger, particularly in the tropics. Many poor people in developing countries are ill equipped to cope with seasonal variations which can lead to drought or flood and consequences for agriculture, employment, food supply and the spread of disease. The subject has assumed increasing importance as climate change and other forms of development disrupt established seasonal patterns and variations. This book is the first systematic study of seasonality for over twenty years, and it aims to revive academic interest and policy awareness of this crucial but neglected issue. Thematic chapters explore recent shifts with profound implications for seasonality, including climate change, HIV/AIDS, and social protection. Case study chapters explore seasonal dimensions of livelihoods in Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi), Asia (Bangladesh, China, India), and Latin America (Peru). Others assess policy responses to adverse seasonality, for example through irrigation, migration and seasonally-sensitive education. The book also includes innovative tools for monitoring seasonality, which should enable more appropriate responses.

Rural families in developing countries make a living by engaging in diverse activities. These range from farming, to rural trade, to migration to distant cities and even abroad. This book explores the implications of rural livelihood diversity for key topics in development studies and for poverty reduction policies. The livelihoods approach is gaining momentum, and this is the first book to set it out in detail.

This book focuses on the effects of rural livelihood and the impact of infectious diseases on health and poverty. It explores cultures and traditions in developing countries and their role in infectious-disease management and prevention. It highlights the associated healthcare systems and how these have contributed to some of the challenges faced, and goes on to elaborate on the significance of community involvement in infectious-disease prevention, management and control. It also emphasizes the importance of surveillance and setting up strategies on infectious-disease management that are favourable for poor communities and developing countries. Infectious Diseases and Rural Livelihood in Developing Countries allows students, researchers, healthcare workers, stakeholders and governments to better understand the vicious cycle of health, poverty and livelihoods in developing countries and to develop strategies that can work better in these regions.

Experiences from incentive-based forest management are examined for their effects on the livelihoods of local communities. In the second section, country case studies provide a snapshot of REDD developments to date and identify design features for REDD that would support benefits for forest communities.

This important new collection of contributions brings together current thinking on poverty reduction and rural livelihoods in developing countries. As well as leading economists in the field such as Frank Ellis and Chris Barrett, there are a number of contributors from developing countries themselves. The book examines both macroeconomic and microeconomic phenomena and contains wide range of case studies. Skilfully exposing the gap that exists between the rhetoric of poverty reduction strategies in capital cities and the practice of public sector delivery in rural areas, this key text will be essential reading for advanced students and researchers in the fields of rural development, rural livelihoods, poverty reduction strategies and Sub-Saharan Africa development as well as advisors and practitioners in international organizations.

The study sites. Methods. The wealth index and its variation. Human, financial, physical and natural capital - the essets available to households. Households productive activities - the generation of cash and subsistence gross income. Exploring household strategies. Net income and poverty. Temporal changes in livelihood strategies. Modelling livelihood change. Making a difference.