Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1.6
Promoting Adoption of Improved Technology and Rewarding Farmers for
Environmental Services
Technology
Impact
Region/County
Reference
Agroforestry
C sequestration,
biodiversity
Humid tropics
Cole (2010), Aguiar et al.
(2009), Fischer and
Vasseur (2002)
Organic matter
management
C sequestration
Semiarid tropics
(India)
Wani et al. (2007), Datta
et al. (2010), Verma et al.
(2010)
Effective policy
supporting an
efficient fertilizer
distribution
Enhanced soil fertility
Zimbabwe
Cobo et al. (2009)
Clearer rights to land
Investment in soil
restoration
Zimbabwe
Cobo et al. (2009)
Improved tree fellows
Enhance soil fertility
Southern Africa
Ajayi et al. (2009)
BNF
Improved N
management
Tropics
Shiferaw et al. (2004)
Improved agronomy
Erosion control and
fertility management
Tropics
Fischer et al. (2002)
align smallholder farmer's incentives with those of society (e.g., water quality,
global warming, biodiversity) through payments for ecosystem services provisioned
by small landholders. Technological options, which can be promoted through PESs,
are outlined in Table 1.6. Ecosystem services provisioned through adoption of these
technologies affect the world community and are of global relevance. Thus, reward-
ing farmers through fair and just price is critical to minimize the risks of the tragedy
of commons.
1.13 CONCLUSIONS
Increase in agricultural productivity of small landholders is essential in alleviating
global hunger and poverty. In rural areas of Asia, Africa, Central America, and the
Caribbeans, there are a few alternatives to farming except the agroindustries, which
may evolve over time. Agricultural development efforts (e.g., World Bank, United
States Agency for International Development, and Gates Foundation) must give a
high priority to small farms. Emerging technologies, which require more resources
and input, must be promoted among small landholders so that they are not marginal-
ized. Therefore, policy implications must focus on improving small farms. Payments
for ecosystem services are one such option. RMPs for small landholders include con-
servation agriculture based on NT farming and mulching, cover cropping, integrated
nutrient management, agroforestry, and water harvesting and recycling. Improving
soil fertility and increasing irrigable land area are important strategies of adapting to
changing and uncertain climate.
