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Social costs and incentives for optimal control of soil nutrient depletion in the central highlands of Ethiopia

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  • Yirga, Chillot
  • Hassan, Rashid M.

Abstract

This study analysed trade-offs between short- and long-term objectives of soil use by smallholder teff farmers in Ethiopia. Compared to socially optimal solutions it was found that smallholder farmers discount the future at higher private rates leading to overexploitation of soil nutrients. Current soil conservation efforts, however, are well above static optimization levels suggesting smallholder farmers consider the long-term (dynamic) costs of soil degradation. There is evidence of high social gains from better utilization of soil resources through appropriate policy such as tenure security, to improve incentives for smallholder farmers to adjust input use towards socially desirable dynamic optimization levels.

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  • Yirga, Chillot & Hassan, Rashid M., 2010. "Social costs and incentives for optimal control of soil nutrient depletion in the central highlands of Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(3), pages 153-160, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:103:y:2010:i:3:p:153-160
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    Cited by:

    1. Loos, T. & Sariyev, O. & Zeller, M., 2018. "The effect of gendered decision-making considering all household members on the adoption of crop rotation and livelihood outcomes in Ethiopia," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277120, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Hassan, R.M. & Crafford, J.G., 2015. "Measuring the contribution of ecological composition and functional services of ecosystems to the dynamics of KwaZulu-Natal coast fisheries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 306-313.
    3. Issanchou, Alice, 2016. "Soil resource, at the core of competitiveness and sustainability issues in agriculture: an economic approach," Working Papers 230002, Institut National de la recherche Agronomique (INRA), Departement Sciences Sociales, Agriculture et Alimentation, Espace et Environnement (SAE2).
    4. Kibret, K. S. & Haileslassie, Amare & Mekuria Bori, Wolde & Schmitter, Petra, 2020. "Multicriteria decision-support system to assess the potential of exclosure-based conservation in Ethiopia," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-15.().
    5. Alice Issanchou, 2016. "Soil resource, at the core of competitiveness and sustainability issues in agriculture: an economic approach," Working Papers SMART 16-01, INRAE UMR SMART.
    6. Amare Haileslassie & Wolde Mekuria & Petra Schmitter & Stefan Uhlenbrook & Eva Ludi, 2020. "Changing Agricultural Landscapes in Ethiopia: Examining Application of Adaptive Management Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Yihenew Selassie & Yihenew Belay, 2013. "Costs of Nutrient Losses in Priceless Soils Eroded From the Highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 5(7), pages 227-227, June.
    8. Yigezu, Yigezu A. & Tizale, Chilot Y. & Aw-Hassan, Aden, 2015. "Modeling Farmers’ Adoption Decisions of Multiple Crop Technologies: The Case of Barley and Potatoes in Ethiopia," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211867, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Emerton, Lucy & Snyder, Katherine A., 2018. "Rethinking sustainable land management planning: Understanding the social and economic drivers of farmer decision-making in Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 684-694.

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