Abstract/Summary

At the outset of this paper I would like to acknowledge the contributions of research team members Keo Keriya and Chan Sophal. From early September to late November 1996, our team of three conducted qualitative research in two village communities to complement a broader, quantitative CDRI study on rural household food security undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). One study village, Babaong, was located in a rice-surplus area in Prey Veng province. The other village, Trapeang Prei, was located in a rice-deficit area in Kompong Speu province.

In this paper I will present findings and analysis that have emerged from our research. More specifically, I will consider household livelihood strategies in family lineages from each of the two communities (see Parts Two and Three for detailed case accounts). The experiences of these particular families represent, for the most part, the more vulnerable households in the communities.

In Babaong, our research team interviewed 71 of the 462 households in the village. Twenty-two of these accounts are written up in this working paper. In Trapeang Prei, our team interviewed 43 of the 64 households in the village. Nine of these accounts are recorded in this paper. It is hoped that discussion of these limited, though detailed, accounts will help us deepen our appreciation of livelihood security and coping strategies in rural Cambodia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64202/wp.07.199812