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The economic cost of upland and gully erosion on subsistence agriculture for a watershed in the Ethiopian highlands

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  • Ayele, Getaneh K
  • Gessess, Azalu A
  • Addisie, Meseret B
  • Tilshun, Seifu A
  • Tenessa, Daregot B
  • Langendoen, Eddy J
  • Steenhuis, Tammo S
  • Nicholson, Charles F

Abstract

This study quantifies the costs of erosion in a watershed of the Ethiopian highlands over a two-year period, accounting for topsoil nutrient losses, time costs due to disrupted travel networks, and the value of lost animals and trees. We use a nutrient replacement cost to value topsoil nutrient depletion, daily wage rate to monetise the opportunity cost of labour due to gully erosion, and local market prices to quantify the lost animals and cash crop trees. The total cost of soil erosion in the watershed during the two years was over $18 000, a cost of $22 per ha per year, $17 per person per year or about 19% of per capita income. The nutrient depletion from topsoil comprised only 42% of total costs. Given these large costs, remediation measures focused on participatory community-based efforts should be evaluated to reduce the severity of soil erosion and its associated effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayele, Getaneh K & Gessess, Azalu A & Addisie, Meseret B & Tilshun, Seifu A & Tenessa, Daregot B & Langendoen, Eddy J & Steenhuis, Tammo S & Nicholson, Charles F, 2015. "The economic cost of upland and gully erosion on subsistence agriculture for a watershed in the Ethiopian highlands," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:afjare:229808
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.229808
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Engel, Stefanie & Pagiola, Stefano & Wunder, Sven, 2008. "Designing payments for environmental services in theory and practice: An overview of the issues," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 663-674, May.
    2. Diao, Xinshen & Pratt, Alejandro Nin, 2007. "Growth options and poverty reduction in Ethiopia - An economy-wide model analysis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 205-228, April.
    3. Drechsel, Pay & Giordano, Mark & Gyiele, Lucy, 2004. "Valuing nutrients in soil and water: concepts and techniques with examples from IWMI studies in the developing world," IWMI Research Reports H035856, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Lant, Christopher L. & Kraft, Steven E. & Beaulieu, Jeffrey & Bennett, David & Loftus, Timothy & Nicklow, John, 2005. "Using GIS-based ecological-economic modeling to evaluate policies affecting agricultural watersheds," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 467-484, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sandipta Debanshi & Swades Pal, 2020. "Assessing gully erosion susceptibility in Mayurakshi river basin of eastern India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 883-914, February.
    2. Xiaobing Liu & Hao Li & Shengmin Zhang & Richard M. Cruse & Xingyi Zhang, 2019. "Gully Erosion Control Practices in Northeast China: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Caiubi Emanuel Souza Kuhn & Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira Reis & Christiane Zarfl & Peter Grathwohl, 2023. "Ravines and gullies, a review about impact valuation," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(1), pages 597-624, May.

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