Inter-household variations in subsistence strategies within a rural society of Roviana, Solomon Islands: An analysis of agricultural production and cash income in relation to socio-demographic factors

Abstract

Since several decades ago, r ural societies in Solomon Islands have experienced rapid socioeconomic changes due to the direct and indirect influences of commercial logging operations by foreign companies on their customar y lands. This study aims to explore household level subsistence patterns and their variations within a rural society that was subjected to the logging operation in the recent past, in Roviana, Western Province. Crop yield (MJ) and cash income (SBD: Solomon Islands Dollar) were compared among households and adjusted for the consumer unit (CU) and producer unit (PU), respectively. The results indicated large inter-household variations for both of these variables. Multiple regression analyses showed that the variation in crop yield was primarily explained by the available labor force (PU), while that in cash income was determined by the householders par ticipation in SDC, a local enterprise founded using a portion of royalty money, as well as the labor force. It is suggested that an individual s experience in generating and increasing cash income in local environments increases his/her household s economic level.