Estimating the joint effect of multiple soil conservation practices: A case study of smallholder farmers in the Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya
Estimating the joint effect of multiple soil conservation practices: A case study of smallholder farmers in the Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya
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DOI：
10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.02.017
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发表时间：
2014-07
期刊：
影响因子：
7.1
通讯作者：
D. K. Willy;E. Zhunusova;K. Holm-Müller
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
D. K. Willy;E. Zhunusova;K. Holm-Müller
目前的研究试图通过估计可归因于多种土壤保持措施的作物生产的边际价值来评估与这种措施相关的私人利益。在与土壤侵蚀相关的土地退化造成土壤肥力丧失、淤积和富营养化等严重农业环境挑战的地区，有必要采取多种方法来保持土壤。然而，尽管努力鼓励采用这种做法，但它们的接受率总体上仍然很低。分析MSCP对作物生产力的影响是探索土壤保持激励措施的途径之一。为了实现上述目标，本研究将倾向得分匹配和外生切换回归技术应用于从肯尼亚奈瓦沙湖盆地随机抽样的农户中收集的横断面数据。结果表明，实施多种水土保持措施对作物生产力有显著的正效应。然而，我们注意到，额外的收益是否将弥补与实施这些做法相关的机会成本，将取决于农场的具体属性，如坡度和土壤保持努力。在边际效益不足以弥补实施土壤保持措施的机会成本的情况下，可能需要内在或外部激励措施。政策干预可以侧重于向农民提供技术援助，帮助他们选择最适合当地情况的土壤保持措施。
The current study seeks to assess the private benefits associated with multiple soil conservation practices (MSCPs) by estimating the marginal value of crop production that can be attributed to such practices. In areas where land degradation associated with soil erosion causes serious agri-environmental challenges such as loss of soil fertility, siltation and eutrophication, a multiple approach to soil conservation is neccessary. However, notwithstanding efforts to encourage adoption of such practices, their uptake remains generally low. Analysing the effect of MSCPs on crop productivity is one of the ways through which the incentives for soil conservation can be explored. To achieve the stated objective, the current study applied propensity score matching and exogenous switching regression techniques to cross-sectional data collected from a random sample of farm households located in Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya. Results indicate that there is a significant positive effect of implementing multiple soil conservation practices on crop productivity. However, we note that whether the additional benefits will cover the opportunity costs associated with the implementation of these practices will depend on farm specific attributes such as slope and the soil conservation effort. In cases where marginal benefits are not substantial to cover opportunity costs for implementation of soil conservation practices, intrinsic or external incentives could be necessary. Policy interventions could focus on offering technical assistance to farmers in selecting soil conservation practices that are best suited to their local condition.