An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru
The cattle sector plays a critical role in Peru’s agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges related to low productivity and environmental degradation. Sustainable alternatives like silvo-pastoral systems (SPSs) offer promising solutions to enhance both economic returns and ecological outcomes in...
| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
MDPI
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174835 |
| _version_ | 1855542447028830208 |
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| author | Junca Paredes, John Jairo Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela Burkart, Stefan |
| author_browse | Burkart, Stefan Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela Junca Paredes, John Jairo |
| author_facet | Junca Paredes, John Jairo Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela Burkart, Stefan |
| author_sort | Junca Paredes, John Jairo |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The cattle sector plays a critical role in Peru’s agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges related to low productivity and environmental degradation. Sustainable alternatives like silvo-pastoral systems (SPSs) offer promising solutions to enhance both economic returns and ecological outcomes in cattle farming. This study examines the economic viability of an intensive SPS (SPSi) compared to traditional monoculture grass systems in San Martín, Peru. The SPSi under study is in the evaluation phase, integrates grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees, and has the potential to enhance cattle farming profitability while simultaneously offering environmental benefits such as improved soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Through a discounted cash flow model over an eight-year period, key profitability indicators—Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Benefit–Cost Ratio (BC), and payback period—were estimated for four dual-purpose cattle production scenarios: a traditional system and three SPSi scenarios (pessimistic, moderate, and optimistic). Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to assess risk, ensuring robust results. The results show that the NPV for the traditional system was a modest USD 61, while SPSi scenarios ranged from USD 9564 to USD 20,465. The IRR improved from 8.17% in the traditional system to between 26.63% and 30.33% in SPSi scenarios, with a shorter payback period of 4.5 to 5.8 years, compared to 7.98 years in the traditional system. Additionally, the SPSi demonstrated a 30% increase in milk production and a 50% to 250% rise in stocking rates per hectare. The study recommends, subject to pending validations through field trials, promoting SPSi adoption through improved access to credit, technical assistance, and policy frameworks that compensate farmers for ecosystem services. Policymakers should also implement monitoring mechanisms to mitigate unintended consequences, such as deforestation, ensuring that SPSi expansion aligns with sustainable land management practices. Overall, the SPSi presents a viable solution for achieving economic resilience and environmental sustainability in Peru’s cattle sector. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace174835 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1748352025-12-08T10:29:22Z An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru Junca Paredes, John Jairo Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela Burkart, Stefan profitability alimentación de ganado vacuno cattle feeding sistema silvopascícola-sistemas silvopastorales monte carlo method multipurpose breeds-dual purpose breeds método de monte carlo raza mixta-ganado de doble propósito ganancia silvopastoral systems-silvopasture The cattle sector plays a critical role in Peru’s agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges related to low productivity and environmental degradation. Sustainable alternatives like silvo-pastoral systems (SPSs) offer promising solutions to enhance both economic returns and ecological outcomes in cattle farming. This study examines the economic viability of an intensive SPS (SPSi) compared to traditional monoculture grass systems in San Martín, Peru. The SPSi under study is in the evaluation phase, integrates grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees, and has the potential to enhance cattle farming profitability while simultaneously offering environmental benefits such as improved soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Through a discounted cash flow model over an eight-year period, key profitability indicators—Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Benefit–Cost Ratio (BC), and payback period—were estimated for four dual-purpose cattle production scenarios: a traditional system and three SPSi scenarios (pessimistic, moderate, and optimistic). Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to assess risk, ensuring robust results. The results show that the NPV for the traditional system was a modest USD 61, while SPSi scenarios ranged from USD 9564 to USD 20,465. The IRR improved from 8.17% in the traditional system to between 26.63% and 30.33% in SPSi scenarios, with a shorter payback period of 4.5 to 5.8 years, compared to 7.98 years in the traditional system. Additionally, the SPSi demonstrated a 30% increase in milk production and a 50% to 250% rise in stocking rates per hectare. The study recommends, subject to pending validations through field trials, promoting SPSi adoption through improved access to credit, technical assistance, and policy frameworks that compensate farmers for ecosystem services. Policymakers should also implement monitoring mechanisms to mitigate unintended consequences, such as deforestation, ensuring that SPSi expansion aligns with sustainable land management practices. Overall, the SPSi presents a viable solution for achieving economic resilience and environmental sustainability in Peru’s cattle sector. 2025-05-20 2025-05-26T13:32:47Z 2025-05-26T13:32:47Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174835 en Open Access application/pdf MDPI Junca Paredes, J.J.; Durango Morales, S.G.; Burkart, S. (2025) An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru. Grasses 4(2): 21. ISSN: 2813-3463 |
| spellingShingle | profitability alimentación de ganado vacuno cattle feeding sistema silvopascícola-sistemas silvopastorales monte carlo method multipurpose breeds-dual purpose breeds método de monte carlo raza mixta-ganado de doble propósito ganancia silvopastoral systems-silvopasture Junca Paredes, John Jairo Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela Burkart, Stefan An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title | An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title_full | An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title_fullStr | An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title_short | An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru |
| title_sort | economic evaluation of an intensive silvo pastoral system in san martin peru |
| topic | profitability alimentación de ganado vacuno cattle feeding sistema silvopascícola-sistemas silvopastorales monte carlo method multipurpose breeds-dual purpose breeds método de monte carlo raza mixta-ganado de doble propósito ganancia silvopastoral systems-silvopasture |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174835 |
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