Determinants of rural livelihood diversification strategies: an altitudinal study in the Eastern Himalayas, India

Purpose The study examines household livelihood diversification strategies across varying altitudes in the Eastern Himalayas, specifically in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and West Sikkim. It aims to identify how a range of factors, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors and asset endowments, shape household livelihood diversification strategies and influence their resilience to climate change. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 320 households across four villages at different altitudes. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the income sources across villages, and multinomial logit model were used to identify factors shaping livelihood strategies. Findings The study identifies various livelihood opportunities, including agriculture, livestock and non-farm activities. Higher-altitude households earn the most from livestock and services, supported by government subsidies. Middle-altitude households benefit more from construction and remittances, while low-altitude households rely more on agriculture. Multinomial logit results indicate that age, agricultural land holdings and credit access negatively affect the likelihood of choosing a balanced livelihood strategy over a farm-dominant approach. In contrast, family size and middle-altitude location positively influence balanced strategies. Additionally, family size, livestock holdings, per capita income and lower altitude increase the likelihood of adopting a non-farm-dominant strategy. Originality/value This study is the first in the region to examine livelihood diversification across altitudes, contributing to understanding mountain communities’ challenges in the Eastern Himalayas. It analyses altitude-specific factors influencing diversification and highlights rural households’ adaptive strategies. Aligning with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations, the findings emphasize the need for context-specific adaptation measures, ensuring strategies are tailored to local environmental and socioeconomic conditions for effective resilience.