Multiple equilibria, soil conservation investments, and the resilience of agricultural systems

This paper provides a new explanation for the persistent land degradation in some parts of the world, despite the availability of seemingly effective soil conservation technologies. We demonstrate that soil conservation technologies may induce agricultural systems to exhibit equilibria characterized...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment and development economics 2006-08, Vol.11 (4), p.477-492
Main Authors: Antle, J.M, Stoorvogel, J.J, Valdivia, R.O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
africa
Agricultural economics
Agricultural production
Agricultural soils
Case studies
Climate change
Conservation practices
Development economics
Economic investment
Equilibrium
Farming systems
fertility management
Fertilizers
irreversibility
kenya
Land degradation
Organic farming
Productivity
Soil conservation
Soil degradation
Soil fertility
Soil productivity
Studies
Sustainable agriculture
Terraces
Tillage
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Summary:This paper provides a new explanation for the persistent land degradation in some parts of the world, despite the availability of seemingly effective soil conservation technologies. We demonstrate that soil conservation technologies may induce agricultural systems to exhibit equilibria characterized by both low and high levels of soil degradation. These two equilibria are separated by a threshold level of soil degradation beyond which a conservation investment will not yield a positive return. Once a parcel of land crosses this productivity threshold, soil degradation becomes economically irreversible (it is not profitable to invest in soil conservation) even though the degradation may be technically reversible. A case study of terracing investments in Peru is used to demonstrate the existence of multiple equilibria under conditions typical of many marginal agricultural areas. These findings help explain why attempts to encourage permanent adoption of soil conservation practices often fail, and how more successful policies could be designed.
ISSN:1355-770X
1469-4395
DOI:10.1017/S1355770X06003056