Integrated management of natural resources in the Ecuador Highlands

Barrera, Víctor Hugo; Escudero, Luis Orlando; Alwang, Jeffrey; Andrade, Robert

doi:10.4236/as.2012.35093

Cited by 14 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Illangama producers are indigenous and their families have been present in the area for generations. The Alumbre sub-watershed covers 16,000 acres and ranges from 6,600 to 9,200 fasl with agriculture found throughout (Barrera, Escudero, Alwang & Andrade, 2012). Agriculture is mainly a mixed maize-bean system, with nearly continual maize cropping.…”

Section: The Survey Experiments and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm Decision Making and Gender: Results from a Randomized Experiment in Ecuador

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Substantial resources have been devoted to mitigating the asset gender gap in developing country agriculture. Efforts have been taken to understand the role of women in decision making and in farm operations. Recommendations for best practices in eliciting information on women's roles have emphasized the importance of sex-disaggregated data collection and analysis. Collection of sex-disaggregated data is not straightforward and careful attention to context is needed. In Ecuador's highlands, chemical use in agriculture is widespread, and outreach and training programs to reduce this use are essential. These programs should target the appropriate decision makers. This paper presents results from a field experiment conducted in the Ecuador highlands where responding farm households are randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (i) a male respondent, (ii) a female respondent, and (iii) both adult male and female respondents (interviewed separately, but with knowledge that the other would also be interviewed). We assess whether treatment assignment affects responses to questions about decision making and responsibility for agricultural activities.Perceptions about household decision making and who is responsible for agricultural activities vary substantially by type of respondent. Men are more likely to claim sole responsibility; women are more likely to claim responsibility or that decisions are jointly made. In households where both man and woman were interviewed (separately) we found stark differences in responses about responsibilities, with men claiming sole responsibility at higher rates. Interviewing both members led to less divergence in responses, but large differences in perceptions about responsibilities remain when both are interviewed. Best interviewing practices depend on the type of information needed: for precise quantification of gender roles, complex methods may be necessary, but where qualitative information is sufficient, single-member interviews may be sufficient. Keywords:Women's decisionmaking, survey design, randomized control trial, integrated pest management, Ecuador. 3 Highlights:Household decision makers should be targeted in pesticide education programs, yet no solid guidance exists for identifying these decision makers Randomized survey experiment uncovers information about how survey design affects responses about decision making and responsibilities Women and men have different perceptions about decision making, but interviewing both in the same household does not solve the problem More research is needed on how to measure gender roles in household decision making 4 Acknowledgements

show abstract

Section: The Survey Experiments and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm Decision Making and Gender: Results from a Randomized Experiment in Ecuador

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1). Excessive use of agrochemicals and machinery has led to a steady rise in production costs and a significant reduction in yields (Barrera et al, 2012; Barrowclough et al, 2016; Escudero et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Households in the watershed obtain their income from rotations that include annual crops (potato, barley, and bean), pasture (used for grazing by dairy cows), and fallow (Barrera et al, 2012). Chela (2008) showed that pasture‐based farming systems are much less susceptible to erosion than those with permanent or annual crops.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Physical and environmental vulnerability analysis conducted for the Illangama watershed located in Ecuador's Andean highlands, shows deteriorated soil quality and declining crop productivity. These problems are caused by soil erosion in steep slopes and inappropriate soil management practices. Research projects conducted from 2011 to 2014 adopted and examined the feasibility of conservation agriculture practices for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), oat (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), bean (Vicia faba L.), and a mixture of pastures (annual ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum Lam.], perennial ryegrass [L. perenne L.], orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata L.], white clover[Trifolium repens L.], and red clover [T. pratense L.]). The practices included surface water deviation ditches, reduced tillage, residue retention, and application of N, all within an improved rotation. The study examined crop yields and economic returns in an effort to identify the best practices. Results indicate that crop productivity and net (of cost of production) benefits of the system were increased as much as 25 and 24%, respectively, using a feasible conservation agriculture system compared to conventional practices. This study shows that conservation agriculture increases yields and saves on production costs due to less tillage. We also found that N fertilization with these conservation agriculture practices increases yields and net returns. This study concludes that conservation agriculture practices are good alternatives for these high‐altitude Andean soils. The practices should be promoted among Andean producers to increase the productivity and sustainability of their potato–grain–pasture systems. Core Ideas The Andean region of Ecuador is critical for the country's food security. Cultivation of high‐slope mountainous agriculture is accelerating erosion. Conservation agriculture is an attractive management alternative. Implementation of reduced tillage could contribute to higher net income for farmers. These practices could benefit nearly 200,000 Ecuadorean farms.

show abstract

“…For example, the farmers Maria Palag and Matias Paguay report that these practices and new technologies have helped increase the milk production from 3 to 4 L (0.8 to 1.1 gal) per cow to 6 to 8 L (1.6 to 2.1 gal) per cow (Maria Palag, personal communication, August 18, 2011) and that the potato production has doubled to tripled (Matias Paguay, personal communication, August 18, 2011). Across the watershed, average yields in crops and animal production have increased dramatically as a result of the SANREM interventions (Barrera et al 2012). …”

Section: Case Scenarios In the Illangama Watershed In Ecuador Showingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ing the positive results of soil and water conservation (Barrera et al 2010a(Barrera et al , 2010b(Barrera et al , 2012. This project has strong international cooperation between the United States, Ecuador, and Bolivia.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Positive impacts in soil and water conservation in an Andean region of South America: Case scenarios from a US Agency for International Development multidisciplinary cooperative project

Monar¹,

Saavedra²,

Escudero³

et al. 2013

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Integrated management of natural resources in the Ecuador Highlands

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

Farm Decision Making and Gender: Results from a Randomized Experiment in Ecuador

Farm Decision Making and Gender: Results from a Randomized Experiment in Ecuador

Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

Positive impacts in soil and water conservation in an Andean region of South America: Case scenarios from a US Agency for International Development multidisciplinary cooperative project

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About