1. The Income-Livelihood Matrix The income-livelihood matrix is a technique that can be used to get a rapid idea of farmer’s strategies for making a living. The matrix exercise can be done with individual farmers Doing the exercise with men and women and with farmers from different wealth groups is useful for learning how the strategies of these groups differ

2. How to do an income- livelihood matrix Use a large sheet of newsprint paper and provide 100 counters (stones, maize or bean seeds….) Ask farmers to list all the activities on and off the farm that generate income, food, or other necessities Then ask farmers to distribute the counters to indicate how much these activities contribut to income, and how much they contribute to consumption

3. ActivityConsumptionIncomeTotal Maize120 Banana21012 Fruit41418 Vegetables4610 Livestock4610 Forage448 Kapok044 Sweetpotato4610 Weaving6612 Labouring044 Total4060100 Income- livelihood Matrix Ways to learn about farmers’ needs:

4. ActivityConsumptionIncomeTotal Maize120 Banana21012 Fruit41418 Vegetables4610 Livestock4610 Forage448 Kapok044 Sweetpotato4610 Weaving6612 Labouring044 Total4060100 In this example the farmer is slightly more oriented towards income- generating activities than towards subsistence

5. ActivityConsumptionIncomeTotal Maize120 Banana21012 Fruit41418 Vegetables4610 Livestock4610 Forage448 Kapok044 Sweetpotato4610 Weaving6612 Labouring044 Total4060100 This farmer is more oriented towards crops than towards livestock, but there is also significant income from a non-farm source, weaving.

6. Advantages High quality information about the farmer’s strategy for making a living When doing the matrix farmers integrate information from the last few years. Quick and easy to do; can be done with different individuals to get an idea of the range of farmer strategies in a village

7. Verification Farm income calculated from partial budget analysis for maize and banana crops Total income for maize (1 ha) and bananas (0.25 ha): ~P18,000 and P54,000 each Assuming two crops of maize/year from 2 ha and 0.4 ha of bananas every 15 months, total yearly farm income for maize and bananas: ~P70,000 and P69,000 each This is close to matrix result of 12% each (for maize and bananas) Conclusion: matrix weights can be a good indicator of household income and consumption

8. Source: Tim Purcell, FSP Click the back button on your browser to return to the main menu