Determinants of smallholder commercial tree cultivation

Godoy, Ricardo

doi:10.1016/0305-750x(92)90147-n

“…Although small-scale landholders are often considered by program developers as being unable to participate in tree planting projects due to insecure land tenure arrangements or the small size of farms (Dove 1992;Fischer andVasseur 2000, 2002;Godoy 1992;Simmons et al 2002;Summers et al 2004;Walters et al 1999), our data from Rio Hato does not support either assertion. The majority of program participants in Rio Hato were small-scale landholders (\10 ha) with possessor rights to their land, but many already have participated in reforestation programs and all said that they would like to plant again with PRORENA under the same conditions.…”

Section: Identifying Potential Tree Planterscontrasting

confidence: 56%

“…Landholders in Panama and elsewhere also have been reluctant to adopt recommended agroforestry and tree planting practices for a variety of reasons, including socio-political problems between extensionists and farmers, the small size of farms, and insecure land tenure arrangements (Bannister and Nair 2003;Degrande et al 2006;Fischer andVasseur 2000, 2002;Godoy 1992;Salam et al 2000;Simmons et al 2002;Summers et al 2004;Walters et al 1999). Many of Panama's small-scale farmers also are not benefiting from government incentives to promote reforestation practices, since the law is said to favor large landholders and corporate activity (Fischer and Vasseur 2000;Simmons et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of farmers’ experiences planting native trees in rural Panama: implications for reforestation with native species in agricultural landscapes

Garen

¹

,

Saltonstall

²

,

Slusser

³

et al. 2009

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In the Republic of Panama, reforestation with native species is of great interest, but many landholders often do not participate in tree planting projects and little information exists about landholder interest in, or experiences with, native trees. This study evaluates the experiences of farmers participating in a native species reforestation initiative in rural Panama to identify lessons learned that can guide on-going or future tree planting efforts. Based on the results of a questionnaire administered to program participants and non-participants (n = 68), we found that trees are important to farmers for multiple reasons, primary a variety of environmental and economic benefits. No relationship between the size of landholdings or land tenure status and the desire to plant trees was found. All participants in the program considered their experience to be positive, few had problems with their plantations, and most were interested in planting more native trees. The program's frequent and ongoing technical support was an important factor for farmers. These results indicate widespread interest in, and success with, planting native species and underscore the need to systematically examine farmers' interests and perceptions when planning, implementing, and evaluating reforestation initiatives.

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“…Increased scarcity means higher prices and greater opportunity for welfare enhancement by any of the myriad of social forestry activities that decrease forest consumption or expand forest production. Godoy (1992) supports this argument with 21 regional examples of farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who responded to high forest product prices by planting trees. Godoy also points out, however, that high prices are not a sufficient condition for tree culture.…”

Section: Responses To Scarcitymentioning

confidence: 75%

“…The incentives are insufficient to induce tree planting and any attempt at forest management will be unsustaina- ble. As Godoy (1992) points out, the prices of forest products may be rising, but they are not yet sufficient to induce forest management.…”

Section: Von Thunen's Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social forestry reconsidered

Hyde¹,

Köhlin²

2000

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This paper reviews the expectations for forestry's contribution to rural developmentand for its special contributions to the most disadvantaged, to women and the landless users of the forest commons. A growing literature challenges some of these expectations; in particular, certain expectations about cultural differences and physical stocks as explanatory factors for patterns of household behavior. This literature could also be used to support a call for sharper definitions of deforestation, improved indicators of the effects of forest resources on the rural poor, and improved design of forest policy interventions. Our paper reviews the literature, suggests some unifying themes, and identifies the critical issues that remain unanswered.The primary contention arising from this literature is that households follow systematic patterns of economic behavior in their consumption and production of forest resources, and that policy interventions in social forestry should be analyzed with regard to markets, policies, and institutions. Markets for forest resources generally exist in some form -although they may be thin. Successful forestry projects and policies require careful identification of the target populations and careful estimation of market and market-related effects on the household behavior of these populations. Institutional structures that assure secure rights for scarce forest resources are uniquely important in a forest enviornment often characterized by open access resources and weak government administration. Social and community forestry, improved stoves, improved strains of multi-purpose trees, and even private commercial forest operations can all improve local welfare, but only where scarcity is correctly identified and the appropriate institutions are in place. An increasing number of observations of afforestation from developing countries around the world is evidence that forestry activities do satisfy these conditions in selective important cases. The critical point for policy is to identify the characteristics of these successful cases that are predictive of other cases where new forestry activities can be welfare enhancing.

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“…Landholders in Panama and elsewhere also have been reluctant to adopt recommended agroforestry and tree planting practices for a variety of reasons, including socio-political problems between extensionists and farmers, the small size of farms, and insecure land tenure arrangements (Bannister and Nair 2003;Degrande et al 2006;Fischer andVasseur 2000, 2002;Godoy 1992;Salam et al 2000;Simmons et al 2002;Summers et al 2004;Walters et al 1999). Many of Panama's small-scale farmers also are not benefiting from government incentives to promote reforestation practices, since the law is said to favor large landholders and corporate activity (Fischer and Vasseur 2000;Simmons et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of farmers’ experiences planting native trees in rural Panama: implications for reforestation with native species in agricultural landscapes

Garen¹,

Saltonstall²,

Slusser³

et al. 2009

Advances in Agroforestry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the Republic of Panama, reforestation with native species is of great interest, but many landholders often do not participate in tree planting projects and little information exists about landholder interest in, or experiences with, native trees. This study evaluates the experiences of farmers participating in a native species reforestation initiative in rural Panama to identify lessons learned that can guide on-going or future tree planting efforts. Based on the results of a questionnaire administered to program participants and non-participants (n = 68), we found that trees are important to farmers for multiple reasons, primary a variety of environmental and economic benefits. No relationship between the size of landholdings or land tenure status and the desire to plant trees was found. All participants in the program considered their experience to be positive, few had problems with their plantations, and most were interested in planting more native trees. The program's frequent and ongoing technical support was an important factor for farmers. These results indicate widespread interest in, and success with, planting native species and underscore the need to systematically examine farmers' interests and perceptions when planning, implementing, and evaluating reforestation initiatives.

show abstract

Determinants of smallholder commercial tree cultivation

Cited by 67 publications

References 20 publications

An evaluation of farmers’ experiences planting native trees in rural Panama: implications for reforestation with native species in agricultural landscapes

An evaluation of farmers’ experiences planting native trees in rural Panama: implications for reforestation with native species in agricultural landscapes

Social forestry reconsidered

An evaluation of farmers’ experiences planting native trees in rural Panama: implications for reforestation with native species in agricultural landscapes

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