Land degradation in sloping uplands: economic drivers and strategies for promoting sustainable land use. Sushil Pandey

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1 Land degradation in sloping uplands: economic drivers and strategies for promoting sustainable land use Sushil Pandey

2 Major issues Focus on soil erosion rather than on sustainable land use systems Limited and sporadic adoption

3 What are the major drivers of agricultural land use patterns?

4 Production systems characteristics and demand for soil conservation Population density Market access Lowland endowment

5 Upland rice systems in transition High Type 2 Continuous rice-based (70% area) Type 4 Intensive cash-based (2% area) Population pressure Low Type 1 Traditional slash-and-burn (14% area) Type 3 Extensive perennial-based (14% area) Low Market access High

6 Poor Market accessgood Type 2 Cash crops in uplands (Limited area of upland rice) Type 1 Upland rice widely grown Type 3 Cash crops in uplands (None or limited area of upland rice) Type 4 None or limited area of upland rice Low Lowland endowment High Typology based on market access and lowland endowment

7 Factors determining adoption Economic environment Farmer-specific factors Farm-specific factors Technology-specific factors

8 Decision-making process for the use of soil conservation practices Personal Factors Education Orientation to farming Conservation attitudes Education and technical assistance Institutional Factors Land tenure Perception of Erosion Problem Decision to Use Soil Conservation Practices Conservation Technology Adoption Physical Factors Slope Length Slope Degree Soil Erodibility Economic Factors Net farm income Discount rate Debt level Risk aversion Off-farm income Farm size Conservation Technology

9 Land conservation and public policy Direct effect : returns to conservation Indirect effect: land use changes

10 Price of output Returns to agriculture Upland-lowland interactions Input subsidy Fertilizers Credit Transportation and marketing

11 Property rights and soil conservation Tenure security and investment Ownership (private and communal) Tenure security and legal title (cost of enforcement) Non-ownership and tenure security Legal title Access to credit Land market Evolution of property rights

12 Food systems based intervention

13 Low food productivity Environmental degradation Low income Limited cash cropping Food insecurity Intensive cultivation of fragile land

14 Entry point Raise food productivity (Land & labor) Protect environment Raise income Encourage cash cropping Improve food security Encourage less intensive use of fragile land

15 Income growth with household food security

16 Green landscapes and food-secure households IRRI s strategy for upland research

17 Landscape management Flows Water Sedimentation Household resources

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22 The Yunnan Experience

23 Upland rice yield in Simao, Yunnan 3.5 Upland rice yields (t/ha) Year

24 Upland rice area in Simao, Yunnan 50 Upland rice area (000ha) Year

25 Ingredients for Success Improved technology Cash cropping Government support

26 Concluding remarks Diversity of factors and results Importance of regional policies and bottom-up planning Focus on land use rather than on soil erosion Solution may not be on-site and may even be outside agriculture