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On‐site economic evaluation of soil conservation practices in Honduras

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  • Julio A. Cárcamo
  • Jeffrey Alwang
  • George W. Norton

Abstract

Factors affecting the cost to the farmer of employing soil erosion reduction strategics are examined for the steep hillsides near Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Linear programming and MOTAD are used to examine these factors. Results indicate that some modest reductions in erosion can be achieved at little cost to the farmer by reorganizing production, switching rotations, and using contour plowing. These modest reductions still lead to extremely high rates of erosion. Sharper reductions may be achieved at progressively higher costs as erosion control structures are constructed and acreage is left fallow. There is a high cost to the farmer of reducing erosion to ‘sustainable’ levels. A consistent tradeoff emerges between levels of soil conservation, income, and risk; erosion reduction efforts lead to lower incomes and higher risk. The analysis of likely benefits to farmers for erosion reduction shows that even under assumptions of very high yield losses from soil erosion, optimal farm plans still lead to high rates of soil loss, implying a need for policies that internalize externalities if off‐farm damages are to be minimized.

Suggested Citation

  • Julio A. Cárcamo & Jeffrey Alwang & George W. Norton, 1994. "On‐site economic evaluation of soil conservation practices in Honduras," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 11(2-3), pages 257-269, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:11:y:1994:i:2-3:p:257-269
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-0862.1994.tb00336.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Fidele Karamage & Chi Zhang & Alphonse Kayiranga & Hua Shao & Xia Fang & Felix Ndayisaba & Lamek Nahayo & Christophe Mupenzi & Guangjin Tian, 2016. "USLE-Based Assessment of Soil Erosion by Water in the Nyabarongo River Catchment, Rwanda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Bernard Elyakime & Jean-François Bruno, 2000. "Gestion de la lutte contre une érosion de versant avec dégâts sur site public," Économie rurale, Programme National Persée, vol. 257(1), pages 67-77.
    3. Shiferaw, Bekele & Holden, Stein, 1998. "A Farm Household Analysis of Land Use and Soil Conservation Decisions of Smallholder Farmers in the Ethiopian Highlands," 1998 Fourth AFMA Congress, January 26-30, 1998, Stellenbosch, South Africa 187624, African Farm Management Association (AFMA).
    4. Fidele Karamage & Chi Zhang & Felix Ndayisaba & Hua Shao & Alphonse Kayiranga & Xia Fang & Lamek Nahayo & Enan Muhire Nyesheja & Guangjin Tian, 2016. "Extent of Cropland and Related Soil Erosion Risk in Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, June.

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