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Farmers’ preference for cropping systems and the development of sustainable intensification: a choice experiment approach

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  • Damien Jourdain1,2,3

    (CIRAD, UMR G-EAU, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
    G-EAU, Univ Montpellier, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, IRD, IRSTEA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
    Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa)

  • Juliette Lairez4,5

    (CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Vientiane, Laos
    AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France)

  • Bruno Striffler

    (AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France)

  • François Affholder

    (AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
    CIRAD, UPR AIDA, F-34398 Montpellier, France)

Abstract

Sustainable intensification (SI) of farming systems aims to increase food production from existing farmland in ways that have a lower environmental impact and maintain the food production capacity over time. SI embraces a set of diverse agricultural technologies that share a common feature: their adoption is dependent on the interactions between farmers’ decision-making processes, locally specific agro-ecological conditions, and the traits of the technology itself. There are concerns about the sustainability of the maize mono-cropping systems that are in use in Laosc today. Therefore, we used discrete choice experiments (DCE) to explore the potential adoption or alternative agricultural systems. We analyse the heterogeneity of farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay for different cropping system attributes using a mixed logit model, and we discuss the possible drivers and barriers to the adoption of these more sustainable options. The results suggest the existence of four types of farmers: “fertility-minded”, “factor-constrained”, “maximisers”, and “risk-averse”. Each type of farmers was likely to react differently to the proposed sustainable intensification techniques. Overall, the DCE appeared to be an efficient tool to elicit the diversity of farmer preferences in an agricultural region and for fine-tuning strategies for successful research and development of sustainable intensification.

Suggested Citation

  • Damien Jourdain1,2,3 & Juliette Lairez4,5 & Bruno Striffler & François Affholder, 2020. "Farmers’ preference for cropping systems and the development of sustainable intensification: a choice experiment approach," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 101(4), pages 417-437.
    • Handle: RePEc:rae:jouraf:v:101:y:2020:i:4:p:417-437
    DOI: 10.1007/s41130-020-00100-4
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    3. Kotu, Bekele Hundie & Oyinbo, Oyakhilomen & Hoeschle-Zeledon, Irmgard & Nurudeen, Abdul Rahman & Kizito, Fred & Boyubie, Benedict, 2021. "Are Smallholder Farmers Interested in Practicing Sustainable Intensification? A Choice Experiment on Farmers’ Preferences for Sustainability Attributes of Maize Production in Ghana," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315032, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Jourdain, Damien & Lairez, Juliette & Striffler, Bruno & Lundhede, Thomas, 2022. "A choice experiment approach to evaluate maize farmers’ decision-making processes in Lao PDR," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Kotu, Bekele Hundie & Oyinbo, Oyakhilomen & Hoeschle-Zeledon, Irmgard & Nurudeen, Abdul Rahman & Kizito, Fred & Boyubie, Benedict, 2022. "Smallholder farmers’ preferences for sustainable intensification attributes in maize production: Evidence from Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Lairez, Juliette & Lopez-Ridaura, Santiago & Jourdain, Damien & Falconnier, Gatien N. & Lienhard, Pascal & Striffler, Bruno & Syfongxay, Chanthaly & Affholder, François, 2020. "Context matters: Agronomic field monitoring and participatory research to identify criteria of farming system sustainability in South-East Asia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

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