First published in 1989, this book deals with the impact of cereal production upon the Third World, specifically 'Modern Varieties' (MVs). Using evidence from plant breeding, economics and nutrition science, the authors seek to pinpoint what has been achieved, what has gone wrong and what needs to be done in future. Although the technical innovations of MVs mean more employment, cheaper food and less risk for small farmers, the reduction in crop diversity increases the risk of danger from pests and though MVs enlarge cereal stocks, many are too poor to afford them. The book concludes that technical breakthroughs alone won't solve deep-rooted social problems and that only new policies and research priorities will increase the choices, assets and power of the rural poor.

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.

First published in 1989, this book deals with the impact of cereal production upon the Third World, specifically 'Modern Varieties' (MVs). Using evidence from plant breeding, economics and nutrition science, the authors seek to pinpoint what has been achieved, what has gone wrong and what needs to be done in future. Although the technical innovations of MVs mean more employment, cheaper food and less risk for small farmers, the reduction in crop diversity increases the risk of danger from pests and though MVs enlarge cereal stocks, many are too poor to afford them. The book concludes that technical breakthroughs alone won't solve deep-rooted social problems and that only new policies and research priorities will increase the choices, assets and power of the rural poor.

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.

Table of Contents

Foreword Robert Chambers 1. Seasonality, rural livelihoods and development: Editorial introduction Stephen Devereux, Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, Richard Longhurst Section 1 Seasonal lives A rainy day Dee Jupp 2. What happened to the seasons? Farmers’ perceptions and meteorological observations of changing seasonality John Magrath, Steve Jennings 3. Month of birth and children’s health in India Michael Lokshin, Sergiy Radyakin 4. Seasonal hunger, famine and the dynamics of HIV in Malawi Michael Loevinsohn 5. Seasonal poverty: Integrated, overlooked and therefore opportunity Robert Chambers Section 2 Seasonal livelihoods Dreading the monsoon Anirudh Krishna 6. Investigating seasonality and poverty: The 2004/05 Malawi Integrated Household Survey Ephraim W. Chirwa, Andrew Dorward, Marcella Vigneri 7. The stabilizing effect of irrigation on seasonal expenditure: Evidence from rural Andhra Pradesh Edoardo Masset 8. Seasonal dimensions of household wellbeing and labour migration in rural southern China Shijun Ding, Haitao Wu, Yuping Chen 9. Off-farm work in the Peruvian Altiplano: Seasonal and geographic considerations for agricultural and development policies Cecilia Turin, Corinne Valdivia Section 3 Seasonal awareness Ode to the Seasons conference (1978) Robert Chambers Sonnet for the Seasonality Revisited conference (2009) Robert Chambers 10. Food affordability: Dealing with seasonal variation of purchasing power Helene Berton, Jennie Hilton, Anna Taylor 11. Modelling seasonality in household income using the Household Economy Approach Charles Rethman 12. Re-tooling for seasonality: Seasonally sensitive disaster risk assessment in Ethiopia Tanya Boudreau, Mark Lawrence 13. Water-bound geographies of seasonality: Investigating seasonality, water and wealth in Ethiopia through the Water Economy for Livelihoods (WELS) approach Lorraine Coulter, Zemede Abeba, Seifu Kebede, Eva Ludi, Belay Zeleke Section 4 Seasonal policies Stabilising food prices in the hungry season Stephen Devereux 14. How planning for seasonality can reduce extreme poverty: Lessons from the Chars Livelihoods Programme (2004–2010), Bangladesh Kate Conroy, Catherine Vignon 15. Conceptualizing seasonal financial market failures in rural household models Andrew Dorward 16. Seasonality and access to education in sub-Saharan Africa Sierd Hadley 17. From seasonal lives towards a-seasonal living: Building seasonality into risk management response Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, Stephen Devereux