Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)

This paper takes a multistrata agroforestry system, based on Litchi chinensis and widely practised in North Bangladesh, as a case study to address the common problem of lack of adoption in agroforestry. Although the financial cost-benefit analysis of agroforestry systems may show clear-cut profitabi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Rahman, S.A., Groot, W.T. de, Snelder, D.J.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20346
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author Rahman, S.A.
Groot, W.T. de
Snelder, D.J.
author_browse Groot, W.T. de
Rahman, S.A.
Snelder, D.J.
author_facet Rahman, S.A.
Groot, W.T. de
Snelder, D.J.
author_sort Rahman, S.A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper takes a multistrata agroforestry system, based on Litchi chinensis and widely practised in North Bangladesh, as a case study to address the common problem of lack of adoption in agroforestry. Although the financial cost-benefit analysis of agroforestry systems may show clear-cut profitability, these systems are often hardly adopted by farmers. Our data clearly show this pattern. Net present values and returns to labor of agroforestry were five times higher than those of alternative (annual) crops, and yet the adoption rate remained very low, even though an agroforestry project had been carried out in the study area and agroforestry had positive cultural value. Common economic reasoning is that in such cases, adoption is hampered by capacity constraints of the farmers. Our data allow to argue, however, that not the capacities but rather the motivations of the farmers are key, in spite of the financial characteristics of the system. This is caused by the underlying institutional structures, that are highly unconducive to agroforestry. We conclude that action for agroforestry should focus first of all to get supportive institutions (rules and organisations) in place before focusing on trees and projects, if needed at all.
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spelling CGSpace203462025-01-24T14:20:42Z Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh) Rahman, S.A. Groot, W.T. de Snelder, D.J. poverty small enterprises cost benefit analysis agroforestry This paper takes a multistrata agroforestry system, based on Litchi chinensis and widely practised in North Bangladesh, as a case study to address the common problem of lack of adoption in agroforestry. Although the financial cost-benefit analysis of agroforestry systems may show clear-cut profitability, these systems are often hardly adopted by farmers. Our data clearly show this pattern. Net present values and returns to labor of agroforestry were five times higher than those of alternative (annual) crops, and yet the adoption rate remained very low, even though an agroforestry project had been carried out in the study area and agroforestry had positive cultural value. Common economic reasoning is that in such cases, adoption is hampered by capacity constraints of the farmers. Our data allow to argue, however, that not the capacities but rather the motivations of the farmers are key, in spite of the financial characteristics of the system. This is caused by the underlying institutional structures, that are highly unconducive to agroforestry. We conclude that action for agroforestry should focus first of all to get supportive institutions (rules and organisations) in place before focusing on trees and projects, if needed at all. 2008 2012-06-04T09:13:17Z 2012-06-04T09:13:17Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20346 en Springer Rahman, S. A., De Groot, W.T., Snelder, D.J. 2008. Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh) . Advances in agroforestry No.5. In: D.J. Snelder and R.D. Lasco. Smallholder tree growing for rural development and environmental services: lessons from Asia. :227-243. Springer Netherlands. ISBN: 978-1-4020-8260-3..
spellingShingle poverty
small enterprises
cost benefit analysis
agroforestry
Rahman, S.A.
Groot, W.T. de
Snelder, D.J.
Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title_full Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title_fullStr Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title_short Exploring the agroforestry adoption gap: financial and socioeconomics of litchi-based agroforestry by smallholders in Rajshahi (Bangladesh)
title_sort exploring the agroforestry adoption gap financial and socioeconomics of litchi based agroforestry by smallholders in rajshahi bangladesh
topic poverty
small enterprises
cost benefit analysis
agroforestry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20346
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