@article{Gebremedhin:178006,
      recid = {178006},
      author = {Gebremedhin, Berhanu and Swinton, Scott M.},
      title = {Investment in soil conservation in northern Ethiopia: the  role of land tenure security and public programs},
      journal = {Agricultural Economics: The Journal of the International  Association of Agricultural Economists},
      address = {2003-07},
      number = {968-2016-75781},
      pages = {16},
      year = {2003},
      abstract = {A double hurdle statistical analysis of 250 farms in the  Tigray region of Ethiopia reveals different causal factors  for
soil conservation adoption versus intensity of use.  Farmers' reasons for adopting soil conservation measures  vary sharply
between stone terraces and soil bunds.  Long-term investments in stone terraces were associated  with secure land tenure,
labour availability, proximity to  the farmstead and learning opportunities via the existence  of local food-for-work (FFW)
projects. By contrast,  short-term investments in soil bunds were strongly linked  to insecure land tenure and the absence  oflocal
food-for-work projects. Public conservation  campaigns on private plots reduced adoption of both stone  terraces and soil bunds.
Whereas capacity factors largely  influenced the adoption decision, expected returns carried  more influence for the intensity
of stone terrace adoption  (measured as metres of terrace per hectare). More stone  terracing was built where fertile but erodible
silty soils  in higher rainfall areas offered valuable yield benefits.  Intensity of terracing was also greater in remote  villages
where limited off-farm employment opportunities  reduced construction costs.
These results highlight the  importance of the right kind of public interventions.  Direct public involvement in constructing
soil conservation  structures on private lands appears to undermine incentives  for private conservation investments. When done
on public  lands, however, public conservation activities may  encourage private soil conservation by example. Secure  land
tenure rights clearly reinforce private incentives to  make long-term investments in soil conservation.
© 2003  Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/178006},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.178006},
}