Wim Heijman

Comparing two sensitivity analysis approaches for two scenarios with a spatially explicit rural agent-based model

In this paper two sensitivity analysis approaches are applied for scenario analysis in a spatially explicit rural agent-based simulation. The simulation aims to assess the socioeconomic and ecological impacts of agricultural policy interventions, market dynamics and environmental change on a regional scale. Two different methods of sensitivity analysis are investigated: i) a one-at-a-time approach where each parameter is varied one after the other, while all other parameters are kept at their nominal values; and ii) a procedure based on Monte Carlo sampling where random sets of input parameter values are related to outputs of the simulation. The complementarity of both approaches and their contribution to the overall interpretation of the model is shown in two scenarios simulating alternative European policy instruments for biodiversity conservation. Results show that a mixed approach of sensitivity analysis leads to a better understanding of the models behaviour, and further enhances the description of the simulations response to changes in inputs and parameter settings.

Social capital influences farmer participation in collective irrigation management in Shaanxi Province, China

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of four components of social capital on farmers’ participative behaviour in collective actions for constructing and operating small-scale groundwater irrigation systems on the Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi Province, China. Design/methodology/approach - – The four components (social networks, social trust, social reciprocity and social participation) were derived by employing exploratory factor analysis. Logistic model was used to estimate the influence of these components on farmers’ participative behaviour. Information was obtained from a field survey covering six counties in 2011 of Shaanxi Province, China. Findings - – The findings indicate that considering different components of social capital allows for a better understanding of farmers’ participative behaviour. The authors find that higher levels of social trust and social participation lead to a higher propensity for collective action, while social reciprocity reduces the probability of participation. Other socio-economic factors and farming characteristics such as education levels, cultivated area, cropping patterns and grain subsidies also have a significant impact. Practical implications - – The findings suggest creating favourable conditions for communication and information exchanges between households, which enhance their trust of each other, and encourage farmers to participate in collective affairs. Moreover, supportive rules are necessary for the future development of collective action. The results of this study also have implications for national irrigation plans for small-scale irrigation facilities in other developing countries. Originality/value - – A consideration of the different components of social capital allows for a more precise understanding of farmers’ participative behaviour.

Research Note: The Economic Value and Roles of Rural Festivals in Japan

This article studies the economic value and roles of rural festivals. The authors investigate the festivals of ‘Kuruma-ichi’ and ‘Suishamatsuri’ in the Yamane area of Kuji city, Iwate prefecture, Japan. They estimate a travel demand model to infer the value of these festivals for visitors and apply the chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) method to analyse the reasons for visiting. The results indicate that the consumer surplus of these festivals is ¥3,627 (US

Economic Aspects in Landscape Decision-making: a Participatory Planning Tool based on a Representative Approach

45.3) for a tourist per trip. From the CHAID analysis it follows that the annual frequency of visits depends on the opportunity for exchange among tourists and the local residents. It appears that the festivals are important occasions for the gathering of former residents in this depopulated and aged mountainous area.

Complex dynamics in the uptake of new farming practices: a case study for organic waste application

In this paper, we develop a method for spatial decision support that combines economic efficiency – measured by the concept of willingness to pay – with a participatory planning tool, that allows for an active collaboration among the actors involved, in such a way that decision makers can draw on the outcomes in their spatial planning and design process. The method is called RITAM, a Dutch acronym for spatially explicit, participatory and interdisciplinary trade-off method, and combines features of three different approaches to achieve an ‘optimal’ landscape. These three approaches are (i) choice experiment approach; (ii) consumer versus citizen approach; and (iii) participatory approach. As such, RITAM can be seen as a valuation technique that makes explicit use of a participatory approach, in which people managing the landscape – in particular the representatives of the different stakeholder groups that use the landscape for different purposes – are engaged. We applied this new method to a case study in the Frisian Lake District (the Netherlands). The result give an indication of the spatial preferences of the population living in and around the area. Although future works is required, RITAM appears to be a suitable method for landscape planning and design processes, taken into account the preferences of the different organised interest groups in an area.

The Effects of Agro-Clusters on Rural Poverty: A Spatial Perspective For West Java

Adverse environmental effects of intensive agriculture, together with scarcity in phosphates and water, urge farmers to find more sustainable practices. An example of such a sustainable practice is on-farm processing of organic waste. This paper explores three mechanisms that can lead to a widespread uptake of this technique: (1) economies of scale, (2) information sharing, and (3) adjustment of social norms. Although each of these mechanisms has been studied before, this paper provides new insights by considering the interactions that might exist between the different mechanisms when they are applied to real-life situations. Based on a pilot study, we developed a multi-criteria mathematical programming model at individual farm level. We used this model to simulate the uptake of on-farm processing of organic waste, as a result of the three mechanisms and their interactions. Our results show that each mechanism results in an increased uptake, but is not likely to cause a widespread uptake. Interaction between the mechanisms, will lead to a much higher uptake. This result suggests that simultaneous consideration of multiple mechanisms is essential to understand the behaviour of social–ecological systems.

A resilience-based policy evaluation framework: Application to European rural development policies

ABSTRACTNeighbouring economies are likely to influence one another. The concentration of farming activities referred to as an agro-cluster generates opportunities for income and employment in a given region and its surrounding area. We analyse the link between poverty rates and agro-clusters by accounting for spatial perspective. To quantify agro-clusters, we employ one input and one output oriented measure. The analysis applies six spatial econometric specifications. We focus on the 545 sub-districts of West Java, where about 10% of the population live in poverty. The concentration of agricultural employment significantly reduces poverty in a sub-district as well as in neighbouring regions. Specialisation in primary crop outputs is associated with positive impacts on poverty. Localisation externalities are more fundamental in agriculture’s success. These findings imply that policy interventions may be applied in a spatially selective manner because they will generate spatial spillover effects on poverty ...