Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the livelihood strategies and the vulnerability to drought of farming households in rural West Java. A field-survey was done in Sukajadi village to examine responses to drought in 2003 by farming households which build various livelihood compositions and belong to different socio-economic strata. The results of the survey substantiate livelihood composition of farming households and the role of agriculture in influencing crop selection as a risk-reducing and coping strategy against the decrease of income caused by poor production. Farming households owning larger paddy fields which build more favorable livelihoods and belong to high socio-economic stratum, can adopt positive risk-reducing and coping strategies. Households cultivating paddy fields generally select crops on their fields considering how to reduce risk of drought. They also consider the water supply condition of their fields and importance of agricultural activity in their livelihoods and aim to make more profitable income composition as a whole. Against the decrease of a capital for next season, they utilize the access channel to complement income which is appropriate for the composition and the strategy of their livelihoods.
