Land Allocation with the Introduction of Teak: A Case Study of Smallholder Farms in Southern Togo

Subsistence landholders in southern Togo are interested in planting teak on their land for income generation. The purpose of this study was to determine how smallholder farmers could allocate land among maize, cassava, and teak plantings in order to optimize financial returns. A linear programming m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sustainable forestry 2014-11, Vol.33 (8), p.776-795
Main Authors: Kenny, Amber Lily, Pickens, James B, Orr, Blair
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
case studies
Cassava
Corn
Farmers
Farming
farming systems
farms
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
income
land allocation
Land use
Linear programming
maize
market prices
markets
Optimization
Plant growth
planting
Small farms
Sustainability
sustainable forestry
teak
Tectona grandis
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Summary:Subsistence landholders in southern Togo are interested in planting teak on their land for income generation. The purpose of this study was to determine how smallholder farmers could allocate land among maize, cassava, and teak plantings in order to optimize financial returns. A linear programming model was developed to calculate the optimal land allocation for maize, cassava, and teak. The model was solved for five farmer types using 15- and 30-yr teak rotations, with timber priced at alternative market and government market prices, and with discount (real interest) rates of 8, 11, and 15%. The analyses indicate that growing teak is profitable for most smallholders if grown on a 15-yr rotation and sold on the alternative market. For Land Rich-Labor Poor farmers, teak is profitable under all regimes.
ISSN:1540-756X
1054-9811
1540-756X
DOI:10.1080/10549811.2014.925810