Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies

Using a multi-criteria optimization technique for system analysis, this paper quantitatively characterizes baseline production activities, resource management and environmental relationships of the mixed crop–livestock farming system at the Jaba micro-watershed, upper Blue Nile Basin, to get insight...

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Main Author: Getnet, Kindie
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Livestock Research Institute 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34251
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author Getnet, Kindie
author_browse Getnet, Kindie
author_facet Getnet, Kindie
author_sort Getnet, Kindie
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Using a multi-criteria optimization technique for system analysis, this paper quantitatively characterizes baseline production activities, resource management and environmental relationships of the mixed crop–livestock farming system at the Jaba micro-watershed, upper Blue Nile Basin, to get insights that inform sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture. The paper characterizes and models system relationships at a landscape scale under the business as usual land use and resource management scenario (including rainwater management), in the light of social, economic and environmental sustainability indicators (employment, farm income and sediment loss and water generation, respectively). The analysis is based on optimization technique that weighs the socio-economic and environmental costs and benefits of current land use and resource management practices at spatial and temporal scales, using farm level survey data. The results show that, under the business as usual scenario, the crop sub-sector will remain the major source of farm income and rural employment. Agricultural income, though trending positively, will not significantly drift from its current level, indicating the limited possibility for rural income growth from agricultural activities under the current pattern of land use, resource management and socio-economic circumstances. Land has the highest shadow price (while such price is low for labour), showing that land scarcity, unlike abundant labour, limits the possibility for extensive farming and agricultural income growth in the area. The environmental cost of agricultural income growth is considerable, showing a clear trade-off between agricultural income growth and the natural resource base that supports agriculture. The socio-economic and biophysical consequences of alternative innovations towards such end can be simulated by introducing respective scenarios into the quantified baseline relationships. The social, economic and environmental consequences of alternative rainwater management strategies can be simulated for technology selection, prioritization and targeting.
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spelling CGSpace342512023-09-25T07:46:11Z Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies Getnet, Kindie intensification water Using a multi-criteria optimization technique for system analysis, this paper quantitatively characterizes baseline production activities, resource management and environmental relationships of the mixed crop–livestock farming system at the Jaba micro-watershed, upper Blue Nile Basin, to get insights that inform sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture. The paper characterizes and models system relationships at a landscape scale under the business as usual land use and resource management scenario (including rainwater management), in the light of social, economic and environmental sustainability indicators (employment, farm income and sediment loss and water generation, respectively). The analysis is based on optimization technique that weighs the socio-economic and environmental costs and benefits of current land use and resource management practices at spatial and temporal scales, using farm level survey data. The results show that, under the business as usual scenario, the crop sub-sector will remain the major source of farm income and rural employment. Agricultural income, though trending positively, will not significantly drift from its current level, indicating the limited possibility for rural income growth from agricultural activities under the current pattern of land use, resource management and socio-economic circumstances. Land has the highest shadow price (while such price is low for labour), showing that land scarcity, unlike abundant labour, limits the possibility for extensive farming and agricultural income growth in the area. The environmental cost of agricultural income growth is considerable, showing a clear trade-off between agricultural income growth and the natural resource base that supports agriculture. The socio-economic and biophysical consequences of alternative innovations towards such end can be simulated by introducing respective scenarios into the quantified baseline relationships. The social, economic and environmental consequences of alternative rainwater management strategies can be simulated for technology selection, prioritization and targeting. 2013-11-01 2013-12-14T14:53:03Z 2013-12-14T14:53:03Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34251 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33929 Open Access application/pdf International Livestock Research Institute Getnet, K. 2013. Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies. IN: Wolde, M. (ed). 2013, Rainwater management for resilient livelihoods in Ethiopia: Proceedings of the Nile Basin Development Challenge Science Meeting, Addis Ababa, 9–10 July 2013. NBDC Technical Report 5. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
spellingShingle intensification
water
Getnet, Kindie
Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title_full Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title_fullStr Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title_short Sustainable intensification of small-scale agriculture in the upper Blue Nile basin: Multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
title_sort sustainable intensification of small scale agriculture in the upper blue nile basin multicriteria optimization of rainwater management strategies
topic intensification
water
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34251
work_keys_str_mv AT getnetkindie sustainableintensificationofsmallscaleagricultureintheupperbluenilebasinmulticriteriaoptimizationofrainwatermanagementstrategies