Economic assessment of conservation agriculture options in mixed crop-livestock systems in Brazil using farm modelling

Alary, Véronique; Corbeels, Marc; Affholder, François; Alvarez, Stéphanie; Soria, Amandine; Xavier, José Humberto Valadares; Silva, F.A.M. da; Scopel, Éric

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2016.01.008

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Farm typologies can be used for many purposes, for instance i) the selection of representative farms or prototype farms as case study objects, e.g. [ 10 – 12 ]; ii) the targeting or fine-tuning of interventions, for example by identifying opportunities and appropriate interventions per farm type, e.g. [ 13 – 18 ]; iii) for the extension of technologies, policies or ex-ante impact assessments to larger spatial or organizational scales (up-scaling and/or out-scaling), e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing farm diversity with hypothesis-based typologies: An innovative methodological framework for farming system typology development

et al. 2018

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Creating typologies is a way to summarize the large heterogeneity of smallholder farming systems into a few farm types. Various methods exist, commonly using statistical analysis, to create these typologies. We demonstrate that the methodological decisions on data collection, variable selection, data-reduction and clustering techniques can bear a large impact on the typology results. We illustrate the effects of analysing the diversity from different angles, using different typology objectives and different hypotheses, on typology creation by using an example from Zambia’s Eastern Province. Five separate typologies were created with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), based on three different expert-informed hypotheses. The greatest overlap between typologies was observed for the larger, wealthier farm types but for the remainder of the farms there were no clear overlaps between typologies. Based on these results, we argue that the typology development should be guided by a hypothesis on the local agriculture features and the drivers and mechanisms of differentiation among farming systems, such as biophysical and socio-economic conditions. That hypothesis is based both on the typology objective and on prior expert knowledge and theories of the farm diversity in the study area. We present a methodological framework that aims to integrate participatory and statistical methods for hypothesis-based typology construction. This is an iterative process whereby the results of the statistical analysis are compared with the reality of the target population as hypothesized by the local experts. Using a well-defined hypothesis and the presented methodological framework, which consolidates the hypothesis through local expert knowledge for the creation of typologies, warrants development of less subjective and more contextualized quantitative farm typologies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing farm diversity with hypothesis-based typologies: An innovative methodological framework for farming system typology development

et al. 2018

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“…The fodder crop biomass produced in the intercropping systems is an additional feed source for the dairy cattle on the farms in the study region. Based on results from whole-farm model simulations, Alary et al (2016) suggested that the production of protein-rich fodder crops is a more cost-effective option for feeding dairy cattle on small farms in the region than the purchase of feed concentrates. In addition, with the specialization and intensification of dairy production and the increase in the price of feed concentrates, farmers are also increasingly using maize as feed for dairy cows, meaning that maize is becoming an even more important crop on these farms.…”

Section: Importance Of Maize-fodder Crop Relay Intercropping For Smalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maize relay intercropping with fodder crops for small-scale farmers in central Brazil

et al. 2020

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Relay intercropping of maize with fodder crops is a promising option for sustainable intensification of dairy small-scale farms in the Cerrado of Brazil. Twenty-six intercropping trials were conducted on farmers’ fields with the following experimental treatments: sole maize crop cropping (MS), maize-Brachiaria intercropping (MB) and maize-pigeon pea intercropping (MP). The trials were managed by the farmers, i.e. choice of conventional tillage (CT) versus no-tillage (NT), sowing dates, fertilization and weed control. Maize grain yield varied strongly across the farmer fields, from 100 to 5900 kg ha−1 in the MS treatment, 500 to 6900 kg ha−1 in MP and 300 to 5500 kg ha−1 in MB. Intercropping did not significantly affect maize grain yields under NT, but yields were reduced under CT in one out of two seasons. Maize yields in the intercropped systems were also higher under NT than CT. Total biomass productivity was significantly higher in the maize-fodder than in the sole maize system. An increased interval between sowing of maize and fodder crop significantly reduced the fodder crop biomass. Relay intercropping, especially in combination with NT, is a promising option if crop calendars and fertilization are properly managed by farmers to reduce interspecific competition between the maize and fodder crop.

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“…The continued existence of beef systems in the region may require the implementation of at least two strategies. First, if a production philosophy based on sustainable intensification is promoted, mixed production systems like those of Groups I and II would benefit from planned crop-pasture rotations, integrated pest management, precision agriculture and enhanced nutrient cycling [88][89][90][91]. Government efforts should address technology transfer, including training on farm management, and incentives to further promote farmers' associations such as the existing "groups of technology transfer" (GTT and PROFOS) or small farmers enterprises [92,93].…”

Section: Hypothesized Reason For Change Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends and Drivers of Change of Pastoral Beef Production Systems in a Mediterranean-Temperate Climate Zone of Chile

Toro-Mújica

Vera

Vargas‐Bello‐Pérez

et al. 2019

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Simple Summary: Livestock production systems show modifications over time due to both internal and external variables. The relationships between internal variables allow the definition of typological groups of production systems. Knowing the typological groups and their temporal evolution allows the identification of continuity strategies at the private and public levels. With this aim and using data from livestock surveys conducted in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, four typological groups of beef production in a Mediterranean-temperate climate zone of Chile were identified. The typological groups differed in size, productive orientation, breeds used, and response to changes in external variables, among other aspects. These groups require different continuity strategies, which include, their sustainable intensification and the need to focus on pastoral production using low external inputs to enhance the production of "natural" beef for high-value niche markets. Abstract:The present study used surveys of the cattle sector over the period of 2009-2015 to develop a typology of cattle farms to evaluate their evolution over time and to identify variables that may be associated with systems' adaptive changes and continuance. Four groups of farms were defined using multivariate analyses as follows: Group I are small calf-cow operations using non-specialized beef breeds; Group II is similar to Group I but employs specialized beef breeds; Group III is dedicated to finishing cattle, and Group IV are larger farms (>1000 animals) with a complete cycle of breeding and fattening. In general, beef cattle production in the temperate-Mediterranean Southern Zone of Chile is declining in response to the opening up of the economy that allows for ample imports, the high opportunity cost of land, and recurrent droughts associated with climate change. Current policies and regulations have modified farms' businesses models depending on their ease of access to markets, farm size and financial capacity. The defined groups require different development paths and strategies. Sustainable intensification is an alternative strategy for farms in Group I and II, particularly if they were to contract the finishing stage of their cattle with Group III farms. In contrast, it is suggested that Group IV farms concentrate on pastoral production using low external inputs to enhance the production of "natural" beef for high-value niche markets, with positive externalities.

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Economic assessment of conservation agriculture options in mixed crop-livestock systems in Brazil using farm modelling

Cited by 31 publications

References 24 publications

Capturing farm diversity with hypothesis-based typologies: An innovative methodological framework for farming system typology development

Capturing farm diversity with hypothesis-based typologies: An innovative methodological framework for farming system typology development

Maize relay intercropping with fodder crops for small-scale farmers in central Brazil

Trends and Drivers of Change of Pastoral Beef Production Systems in a Mediterranean-Temperate Climate Zone of Chile

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