Livelihood resilience: The case of sungai Terengganu communities

Abstract

Livelihood in river settings may appear simple, but upon closer examination, it is multifaceted and dynamic. The elements of uncertainty in sustaining a satisfactory livelihood are always present. The concept of resilience is about individuals, households or groups making a living and attempting to satisfy their consumption and economic necessities, surviving with uncertainties and responding to new opportunities. The earlier approaches in livelihood studies regarded poor people as inactive or passive victims. However, the trend has changed with greater interest to study on the survival strategies of the poor. In particular, consideration is given to the living experiences of households and the community. The objective of this study is to apply the concept of resilience as a diagnostic approach to the understanding of rural communities' livelihoods. The analysis highlights the resilience aspects of the rural community and their livelihood strategies for comfortable living.