Conservation farming on steep lands - USAid

108 STEPHEN 6. LOVEJOY and TED L. NAPIER
relative to how technologically intensive practices arc: maintained and
repaired, (4) inconsi~tencies in terms of national development goals and
continuance of soil conservation efforts, and (5) an inability on the part
of conservation agencies to convince farmers there is an erosion problem
that should be reduced.
Soil erosion as a social problem
Predictirhg the adoption of soil erosion control practices is difficult,
especially in less developed societies. Clearly, erosion will not be eliminated
by technological solutions alone when the cause involves inappropriate production
practices employed by land operators. Production techniques have
been devised for reducing soil erosion even on steep lands, but many of
these techniques are not being used by farmers. Many farmers elect not
to adopt erosion control practices because they are unwilling or unable to
adopt the necessary techniques. Lack of motivation is one of the most significant
barriers to the implementation of soil conservation programs. 111 other
words, part of the world's soil erosion problem is associated with institutional
and individual barriers to adoption of soil erosion control practices.
Soil erosion is as much a social problem as it is a technological problem (12).
<strong>Conservation</strong> policies and programs are strongly affected by national
policies in the agricultural and nonagricultural sectors. <strong>Conservation</strong> is
greatly influenced by the arrangements and relationships among various
ministries and agencies that have vested interests in agriculture and conservation.
Some of thesc institutional constraints may block producers from
using conservation practices. In fact, national policies to increase food and
fiber production can accelerate soil erosio~: as farmers increase production.
If the conservation goal is to protect soil resources, initiators of conservation
programs and policies must learn to operate within structural constraints.
It is unlikely that all national goals will be consistent with soil
conservation objectives. Eniphasis will shifi from time to time. <strong>Conservation</strong>
may periodically surface as an important issue. At other times it will
be relegated to a lesser role behind issues of full employment, economic
development, national security, and international trade.
<strong>Conservation</strong> policies and programs designed for steep iands must take
into account a vast array of institutional and social factors. Future programs
that hope to be successful must address the following social and institutional
constraints:
Macmeconornic and nracmsocial cotrstmi~tts. <strong>Conservation</strong> policies and
programs must be implemented within the context of macroeconomic and