Physical Capital and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Evidence from Qarabagh District, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/ijrah.6.4.10Keywords:
Agricultural facilities, Livelihood resilience, Physical capital, Rural infrastructure, Sustainable rural livelihoods, Qarabagh DistrictAbstract
Background: A key element of the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) framework, physical capital is essential for enhancing rural communities' livelihood stability, productivity, and access to services. The development of physical capital in Afghanistan has been severely hampered by decades of conflict and low state investment, especially in isolated rural areas like Qarabagh in Ghazni Province. Despite its significance, there is still little empirical data on the state of physical capital and how it affects sustainable rural living. Methods: Using a quantitative research approach, 384 rural households in particular villages in Ghazni Province's Qarabagh District provided primary data for this study. A systematic questionnaire based on the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods framework was used to collect data. A five-point Likert scale was used to measure key indicators of physical capital, such as access to infrastructure, basic services, agricultural facilities, housing conditions, and sanitation. The general state of physical capital in the research region was evaluated using descriptive statistical techniques. Results: With an overall mean score of 2.71, the results show that physical capital in the research area is usually weak, reflecting poor quality and restricted access to necessary infrastructure and services. A significant barrier influencing agricultural production, income generation, market access, and health service access was found to be inadequate access to electricity, transportation, communication services, and agricultural machinery. The study comes to the conclusion that one of the main challenges to establishing sustainable rural lifestyles in Qarabagh District is a lack of physical capital. To improve livelihood resilience and long-term sustainability in rural Afghanistan, policy goals must include investing in agricultural facilities, strengthening rural infrastructure, and expanding access to key services.
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