Exploratory land use studies and their role in strategic policy making

Ittersum, M.K. van; Rabbinge, R.; Latesteijn, H.C. van

doi:10.1016/s0308-521x(98)00033-x

Cited by 116 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In this context, assessing the performance of the diversity of farms in terms of land and labour use, provides a solid base for further exploration of new production activities aimed at improving livelihoods. Bio-economic models are useful tools to explore what if questions related to increasing agricultural productivity (Van Ittersum et al, 1998). The results can be assessed in terms of socioeconomic costs-benefits for each farm type.…”

Section: Rationale Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring opportunities for rural livelihoods and food security in Central Mozambique

Leonardo

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Growing awareness of widespread hunger and poverty in many countries in the SSA is spurring a focus on productivity increase in smallholder farming systems. The rationale is that with current production systems many SSA countries are not keeping pace with population growth and changing of peoples' lifestyles. To respond to this challenge the Government of Mozambique developed its Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development (PEDSA) aiming to improve agricultural productivity of the majority of smallholder farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers are diverse in terms of resources and aspirations. The main objectives of this study are first to understand the diversity among maize-based smallholder farms and their current constraints in improving agricultural productivity in the Manica Plateau, Central Mozambique, and second, building on that understanding to explore options for biomass production either for food, cash or biofuel at farm level and contributions to maize availability in the region. The study was conducted in the Dombe and Zembe Administrative Posts. Farmers in the two posts cultivate both food and cash crops using the same resources, however, distances to the urban market differ, with Zembe close and Dombe far away from the markets. In addition, the agroecological conditions for crop production are more favourable in Dombe compared with Zembe. Using farm surveys, direct observations and on-farm measurements, followed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA) I identified land and labour as the variables that can best explain the variability found among smallholder farms (Chapter 2). Based on these variables I categorised farms into four Farm Types (FT): FT1. Large farms (4.4 ha in Dombe and 2.2 ha in Zembe), hiring in labour; FT2. Intermediate sized farms (1.9-1.2 ha), hiring in and out labour; FT3a. Small farms (1.1-0.9 ha), sharing labour; and FT3b. Small farms (1.0-0.7 ha), hiring out labour. The maize yield and maize labour productivities were higher on large farms (2.3 t ha -1 in Dombe and 2.0 t ha -1 in Zembe; 2.5×10 -3 t h -1 in Dombe and 2.6 ×10 -3 t h -1 in Zembe) compared with small farms (1.5 t ha -1 in Dombe and 1.1 t ha -1 in Zembe;1.4×10 -3 t h -1 in Dombe and 0.9×10 -3 t h -1 in Zembe). The hiring in labour from small farms allowed large farms to timely weed their fields. Small farms were resource constrained and viii hired out labour (mutrakita) for cash or food to the detriment of weeding their own fields, resulting in poor crop yields. Excessive alcohol consumption by small farms also raised concerns on labour quality. Chapter 3 explored options aiming at addressing farmers' objectives of being maize self-sufficient and increased gross margin and the contribution to national objective of producing food. A bio-economic farm model was used to investigate two pathways to increase agricultural production: (i) extensification, expanding the current cultivated area; and (ii) intensification, increasing input use and output per unit of land...

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Section: Rationale Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring opportunities for rural livelihoods and food security in Central Mozambique

Leonardo

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“…The general methodological framework is mainly based on the experiences gained in the MESMIS framework (Masera et al, 1999;Lopez-Ridaura et al, 2002) and on the framework for quantitative land use analysis (van Ittersum et al, 1998(van Ittersum et al, , 2004. Operationally, the general framework has a cyclic structure (Figure 2).…”

Section: Deriving Indicators For Multiscale Sustainability Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is commonly done by exploring their technical and socio-economic possibilities and feasibilities, with the aim to identify technological innovations and/or policy measures that would enhance sustainability (e.g. Gérard et al, 1995;van Ittersum et al, 1998;Schipper et al, 2000;Barbier, 2001;Deybe, 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

Multiscale Methodological Framework to Derive Criteria and Indicators for Sustainability Evaluation of Peasant Natural Resource Management Systems

López-Ridaura¹,

Keulen²,

Ittersum³

et al. 2005

Environ Dev Sustain

125

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Abstract. Design and implementation of more sustainable natural resource management systems is the current objective of many research institutions, development agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. But, how to assess whether a system is sustainable? How do we know whether the alternatives designed will increase the sustainability of the system? How to evaluate or assess the sustainability of natural resource management systems?In this paper we present a multiscale methodological framework for sustainability evaluation. The framework is based on a systems approach from which five general attributes of sustainable natural resource management systems are defined based on scale-and discipline-independent properties (productivity, stability, resilience, reliability and adaptability).A general operational strategy to derive 'site-specific' criteria and indicators for the attributes at different scales is also presented. This strategy is based on the definition of 'impact scales', at which the different stakeholders can or want to design alternatives, as well as the main stakeholders' objectives and constraints. The application of the multiscale framework is illustrated with a case study in the Purhepecha Region of Michoacán, a peasant mountainous region in the west of Mexico. We used stakeholder consultation to identify the main objectives and constraints as well as to select criteria and indicators. The sets of criteria and indicators suggested for the different scales of analysis of the Purhepecha Region are comprehensive, yet not exhaustive, and represent the main issues related to natural resource management in the region. Further work will be directed towards the quantification of indicators at different scales and their relationships and trade-offs.

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“…Then linear programming is recognized as an important tool for agricultural land use exploration (Hazel & Norton, 1986;De Wit et al, 1988;Van Keulen, 1990;Bouman et al, 1998). It can be used to explore land use allocations that optimize agricultural, economic or environmental objectives at the farm level (Rossing et al, 1997) and at the regional level (WRR, 1992;Rabbinge & Van Latesteijn, 1992;Van Ittersum et al, 1998;Bouman & Nieuwenhuyse, 1999;Raju & Kumar, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Optimal Land Use Allocation Among Small Holder (A1) Farmer Households in Zimbabwe. A Case Study of Long Croft Farm, in Mazowe District

Mugabe¹,

Chipunza²,

Mupaso³

et al. 2014

JAS

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This study aimed to develop an optimal land use plan for Long Croft farm (LCF) by assessing the available land resources. It evaluates the potential of the land resources for recommending optimum, sustainable and appropriate land utilisation in agriculture development. Possible ways in improving farming systems and more efficient utilization of the scarce available agricultural resources especially arable land were determined. The study used quantitative analytical approach in optimal land use allocation analysis. A total of thirty six structured questionnaires were used to gather data necessary for analysis. Every household at Long Croft farm was taken as a sampling unit and the area consisted of 36 A1 farmer households. The Linear programming model with an objective function that seeks to maximise net farm income subject to land, labour, capital and consumption constraints was run using Microsoft excel premium solver. The results of the study showed that A1 households are insecure with respect to their land holdings; they cannot use their land as collateral security which is affecting farmer access to credit. The households are also much constrained in land, labour, capital and consumption and as such their land allocation has been found to be not optimal. The LP (linear programming) model has depicted maize, soya beans and sugar beans for LCF when they are no factor markets. However introduction of factor markets (land and labour markets) and farmer performance groups depicted production of small grains and maize. The land reform programme promulgated by the government in 2000 should have focused on equitable right of use, optimising sustainable production, protection of natural resources/ environment against degradation and increase the effectiveness of economic growth of rural and urban population. Most of the fast track land reform developmental activities were done without proper resource surveying for optimum and sustainable resource utilization, especially land, hence great competition and losses of good agricultural uses to inefficient agricultural uses. Resource surveying, land evaluation and land use planning should be employed in Zimbabwe's agriculture to boast production.

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Exploratory land use studies and their role in strategic policy making

Cited by 116 publications

References 14 publications

Exploring opportunities for rural livelihoods and food security in Central Mozambique

Exploring opportunities for rural livelihoods and food security in Central Mozambique

Multiscale Methodological Framework to Derive Criteria and Indicators for Sustainability Evaluation of Peasant Natural Resource Management Systems

Estimation of Optimal Land Use Allocation Among Small Holder (A1) Farmer Households in Zimbabwe. A Case Study of Long Croft Farm, in Mazowe District

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