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Desire for Greener Land

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Assessment<br />

Impacts of the Technology<br />

Production and socio-economic benefits Production and socio-economic disadvantages<br />

increased crop yield<br />

decreased labour constraints<br />

decreased workload<br />

simplified farm operations<br />

reduced risk of production failure<br />

increased farm income<br />

increased expenses on agricultural inputs<br />

Socio-cultural benefits Socio-cultural disadvantages<br />

improved conservation / erosion knowledge<br />

improved food security /self sufficiency<br />

community institution strengthening<br />

Ecological benefits Ecological disadvantages<br />

improved soil cover<br />

increased biomass / above ground C<br />

increased nutrient cycling recharge<br />

reduced soil loss<br />

reduced soil crusting / sealing<br />

reduced soil compaction<br />

increased soil organic matter / below ground C<br />

Off-site benefits Off-site disadvantages<br />

reduced surface runoff<br />

increased water availability<br />

Contribution to human well-being/livelihoods<br />

improved tillage improves crop yields and thus household income increases<br />

Benefits/costs according to land user<br />

Acceptance/adoption:<br />

Benefits compared with costs short-term: long-term:<br />

Establishment positive positive<br />

Maintenance/recurrent positive positive<br />

The adoption of the technology has been subject to the establishment of transfer programmes with smallholder farmers. In particular, in<br />

two communes of the “secano interior” (Ninhue and Yumbel), 100% of the families who were part of the technology transfer programme<br />

on no tillage adopted the technology. In terms of the area covered, the programme covered 1000 ha and 35% of the area adopted no<br />

tillage. Only a few land user families have implemented the technology voluntarily.<br />

There is no trend towards (growing) spontaneous adoption of the technology.<br />

Concluding statements<br />

Strengths and how to sustain/improve Weaknesses and how to overcome<br />

No tillage preceded by subsoiling as part of the incentive<br />

programme <strong>for</strong> the recovery of degraded soils managed by the<br />

Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) Adjusting incentives<br />

according to timing of the expenses and investments and also<br />

conditioning incentives to the adoption of the technologies<br />

The availability of machines is the main obstacle <strong>for</strong> adopting zero<br />

tillage and subsoiling To create and promote small companies of<br />

agricultural machinery, managed by farmers themselves. Two<br />

examples already exist in the counties of San Carlos and Ninhue.<br />

Key reference(s): Del Pozo, A., Del Canto, P. 1999. Areas agroclimaticas y sistemasproductivos en la VII y VIII Región. (INIA)<br />

Contact person(s): Ovalle Carlos, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. covalle@inia.cl<br />

80 DESIRE – WOCAT <strong>Desire</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Greener</strong> <strong>Land</strong>

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