Abstract:
Climate change-driven disasters escalate vulnerabilities of rural livelihoods especially who are depending on
nature. Climate induced migration is a coping strategy, seeking alternative or secondary livelihood opportunities.
Despite national and international institutions having introduced alternative and secondary livelihoods for climate
victims, the limitations and challenges of these programmes have not been assessed. The paper aims to address
this lacuna and the importance of supportive services to strengthen secondary and/or alternative livelihoods in
drought affected regions. Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts were chosen where the drought has become
the threatening climatic factor. A mixed-method approach was adopted employing a questionnaire survey with 60
paddy farmers and 15 key informant interviews including leaders in the farmer organizations (n=10) and
government officers (n=5). Simple random sampling technique was adopted to draw the survey sample.
Alternative livelihood vulnerability index (ALVI) was calculated over availability, accessibility, and degree of
satisfaction with the supportive services. Secondary livelihoods- trading, inland fishing, daily wage labor, and self
employment are commonly adopted than a complete transformation. These options are not sustainable due to
negative sentiments, resistance to change, limited support from external entities (0.3–0.5 ALVI), poor access to
capacity building (0.2–0.4 ALVI), and less satisfaction with available supportive facilities (0.37 ALVI). Capacity
building, skill development, and motivational sessions over alternative/secondary livelihoods are recommended
with adequate supportive services for a smooth transition.
