A. Yigezu

Financial incentives: Possible options for sustainable rangeland management?

Large-scale mismanagement of natural resources emanating from lack of appropriate policies and regulatory framework is arguably one of the reasons that led to resource degradation and poor livelihoods in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Sustainable rangeland management practices (SRMPs) are considered to be a solution to feed shortages and rangeland degradation. However, the scope for SRMP adoption, has been a subject of debate. Using a case study from Syria and the application of the Minimum Data Analysis method (TOA-MD), this paper provides empirical evidence for ensuring wider adoption of SRMP. The paper argues that the introduction of financial incentives in the form of payments for agricultural-environmental services can increase the economic viability and enhance the adoption of SRMPs and is a better alternative to the unsustainable state subsidies for fodder purchases and barley cultivation on rangelands. Model results indicate that further investment in reasearch toward generating low cost technologies and tailored governance strategies including a financial incentive system would lead to better management of rangelands and improve livelihoods in the Syrian Badia. These findings are valuable for policy makers, donors as well as development and extension practitioners in the MENA region as they can better inform future courses of actions.

Explaining Adoption and Measuring Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Productive Efficiency, Income, Poverty and Food Security in Syria

This study employs the Heckman selection model to identify factors affecting the adoption of zero tillage (ZT) and measure its yield, income, and consumption impacts among Syrian wheat producers. A stochastic production frontier model is also estimated to compare the productive efficiency of adopters and non-adopters. Model results show that participation in field days and hosting on-farm demonstration trials are among the most important variables that enhance adoption. ZT increases yield, consumption, and income and reduces income risk-lifting 57 % of the adopters out of poverty. A shift from conventional tillage (CT) to ZT would helps farmers to be more technically efficient in production and achieve current output levels with 22 % less inputs. Along with environmental benefits documented in existing literature, this study shows that ZT is one of the few technologies whose benefits can be justified on environmental, economic, and food security grounds.The policy implications of these results are that education and extension that encourage farmers to participate in field days and host demonstration trials on their own farms are essential in promoting ZT technology adoption. In-depth analysis of the trade-offs between crop residue retention and the resulting loss in livestock feed in mixed crop–livestock production systems is warranted.

Identification of strategies to improve goat marketing in the lowlands of Ethiopia: a hedonic price analysis

ABSTRACT This article aims at identifying factors that determine market prices of goats and analyse potential mechanisms by which smallholder goat producers could maximize their benefits. Data on 357 farm households and 2103 goat transactions were collected in three major goat markets in the lowlands of Ethiopia. Hedonic price models adjusted for heteroscedasticity were employed to analyse the observed price data. Model results showed the relative importance of different factors in determining goat prices. Animal attributes including age, sex, live weight, body condition and presence of horn as well as types of buyer and market outlet targeted and time of selling were found to be important. Particularly, goats marketed during festive periods where demand for meat increases (e.g. Ethiopian New Year) command higher prices. These results imply that interventions such as systematic selection schemes targeting traits demanded by the market, improved linkages to markets, easy access to market information systems and creating conducive environment including incentive mechanisms can enhance smallholder farmers’ and pastoralists’ ability to take advantage of seasonal and spatial price changes and become market responsive with effective marketing strategies. Such changes can be potent in improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and pastoralists.