Conservation farming on steep lands - USAid

Soil degradation is one of the major problems confronting agriculture
throughout the world. Deforestation, intense cultivation of vulnerable land,
overgrazing, and poor soil and water management all reduce the productive
capacity of soils and pose constraints to increased food, feed, and
fuel production. The ability of developing countries to feed rapidly growing
populations relates directly to wise natural resource management. Scientists
and development planners alike agree that a sound agriculture rests
on a stable natural resource base. Both groups of experts now stress the
in~portance of maintaining and improving the productivity of the world's
soil resources and call for efforts to reduce soil erosion and degradation.
While many experts believe that the majority of expansion in agricultural
production between now and the year 2000 will come from land that is
cultivated at the present time, rnarginal land-both steep and flat-is becoming
increasi~gly imporlant in many parts of the developing world due to
rapid population growth and the shortage of good arable land. As a result
of poor soil quality and unfavorable climatic conditions, misuse of this
land can result in serious and often irreversible degradation.
Historically. most natural resources were coilsidered common property
and provided a productive base for crops and many other basic necessities
of life. This system worked well when resources were plentiful and people
were few. Ecosystems had ample t' 7e to regenerate after periods of heavy
use. Today, this is no longer the case. Continued dependence by larger
numbers of individuals on a finite natural resource base results in the
degradation of the resources and a serious loss ir, their productive capacity.
In addition, misdirected development policies and other policies that
discriminate against agriculture deprive farmers of the capacity and incentive
to adopt productive, conservation-conscious <strong>farming</strong> practices and
technologies. In developing countries, high prices for cash crops encourage