Browsing by Subject "Linear programming"

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An economic analysis of the implementation options of soil conservation policies
(2008) Schuler, Johannes; Dabbert, Stephan
The objective of this study is to analyze the economic and agricultural aspects of the implementation of soil conservation programmes and to suggest appropriate measure-instrument combinations for efficient soil conservation as a decision support for the implementation of soil conservation policies. Emphasis is given to the resource and institutional economics of soil conservation. In the empirical part, the efficiency of policy options is analysed using the example of a region in north-eastern Germany based on model calculations. After an introduction to the topic of soil functions and soil degradation definitions, the implementation concepts for soil protection measures at the international and national level are described. Based on the theoretical economic analysis of soils as a natural resource, the existing property rights, the public good characteristics of soils and the resulting externalities lead to the conclusion that market failure does exist. Therefore, the non-market coordination of soil use is justified. A cost-effectiveness analysis was derived based on the theory of ?safe-minimum-standard? for the appropriate assessment of the implementation options of soil conservation policies. A fuzzy-logic-based method, which is based on an expanded Universal Soil Loss Equation approach (USLE), was applied for the assessment of soil erosion risk in the sample region. The approach considers both the natural conditions and the characteristics of the cropping practice. The very detailed description of the cropping practices allowed for the specific assessment of erosion relevant effects. This, in combination with the high detail site descriptions provided this study with a very precise regional approach. The regional decision-support system MODAM (multi-objective decision support tool for agro-ecosystem management) was applied for the assessment of the economic and environmental impacts of different policy options. The policy scenarios examined include a CAP reform scenario with decoupled payments in accordance with the proposed conditions of the year 2013. This scenario was used as the reference scenario for the other possible scenarios of soil conservation policies. The three main scenarios for the policy options are 1) a non-spatially oriented, 2) a spatially-oriented incentive programmes for reduced tillage practices and 3) a regulation scenario that prohibits the cultivation of highly erosive crops (row crops) on erodible soils. The prohibition of row crops on highly erodible soils led both to lower on-farm costs and lower budget costs in comparison to the incentive programmes for reduced tillage. All three scenarios had comparable reduction in soil erosion. Based on the modeling results the ban on row crops on highly erodible sites is therefore the preferable option in terms of the cost-effectiveness ratio. The inclusion of transaction costs in this study helps expand the scope of policy analysis, for the total costs of a policy would be underestimated if only the budget costs for the direct payments to farmers were considered. Transaction costs understood as a cost for the (re-) definition and implementation of property rights can reach substantial amounts and reduce the total efficiency of a policy. The results of the qualitative analysis of the transaction costs of the study policy options also supported the option of row crop regulation on highly erodible soils. A model that serves as decision support for both the economic and agricultural aspects of soil conservation had been successfully developed in this study. Different policy options were analysed for a cost-effective solution of soil conservation programmes. Based on the final discussion on the involved transaction costs, the regulatory approach (a spatially-focussed ban on row crops) was shown to be the most cost-effective option with potentially lower transaction costs. The main criteria for a cost-effective policy design are high efficiency in both the agricultural measures (practices) and the spatial correlation between the programme area and the high erosion risk areas. Incentive programmes in combination with less effective agricultural practices showed a worse cost-benefit ratio for the sample area than the regulation approach, which is based on more effective agricultural practices.
Nachhaltiger Anbau von Bioenergie : eine ökonomisch-ökologische Analyse für die Landwirtschaft in Baden-Württemberg
(2012) Konold, Angelika; Zeddies, Jürgen
The aim of this thesis is on the one hand to estimate the potential of energy crop production for CO2-sequestration in Baden-Württemberg. On the other hand the focus lies on the interactions that arise from the implementation of optimized na-ture conservation measures with the land management on regional level. For this the existing economic-ecological regional model EFEM (Economic Farm Emission Model), based on linear programming, is further developed. The calculations are made on farm level and are extrapolated on regional level. The model is calibrated on the database for the years 2001-2005 and the so modeled Reference_2003 than is projected to the year 2015 (BAU_2015), this to evaluate the model results without the influence of the great changes in agricultural policy in the last years. Based on the modeled situation for the year 2015 further scenarios are defined that differ in the expansion of energy cropping and nature conservation measures. In the ?biomass scenarios? only the legal nature requirements have to be met while in the corresponding ?conservation scenarios? restrictions that are optimal from a nature conservation point of view, must be considered. The sensitivity analyses for selected parameters proved that the model results have sufficient stability to make reliable statements about synergy effects and conflicts between the expansion of energy crop cultivation and requirements for natural conservation. Altogether it could be shown that with the used model approach interactions be-tween the cultivation of energy crops and nature conservation are represented sufficiently and the objectives of energy and climate policy are compatible.
Payments for environmental services : incentives through carbon sequestration compensation for cocoa-based agroforestry systems in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
(2008) Zeller, Manfred; Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Christina; Schwarze, Stefan
Up to 25 percent of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation, and Indonesia is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide due to land use change and deforestation. On the island of Sulawesi in the vicinity of the Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP), many smallholders contribute to conversion processes at the forest margin as a result of their agricultural practices. Specifically the area dedicated to cocoa plantations has increased from zero (1979) to nearly 18,000 hectares (2001). Some of these plots have been established inside the 220,000 hectares of the LLNP. An intensification process is observed with a consequent reduction of the shade tree density. This study assesses which impact carbon sequestration payments for forest management systems have on the prevailing land use systems. Additionally, the level of incentives is determined which motivates farmers to desist from further deforestation and land use intensification activities. Household behaviour and resource allocation is analysed with a comparative static linear programming model. As these models prove to be a reliable tool for policy analysis, the output can indicate the adjustments in resource allocation and land use shifts when introducing compensation payments. The data was collected in a household survey in six villages around the LLNP. Four household categories are identified according to their dominant agroforestry systems. These range from low intensity management with a high degree of shading to highly intensified shade free systems. At the plot level, the payments from carbon sequestration are the highest for the full shade cocoa agroforestry system, but with low carbon prices of ? 5 tCO2e-1 these constitute 5 percent of the cocoa gross margin. Focusing on the household level, however, an increase of up to 18 percent of the total gross margin can be realised. Furthermore, for differentiated carbon prices up to ? 32 tCO2e-1 the majority of the households have an incentive to adopt the more sustainable shade intensive agroforestry system. A win-win situation seems to appear, whereby, when targeting only the shade intensive agroforestry systems with carbon payments, the poorest households economically benefit the most and land use systems with high environmental benefits are promoted.
Socio-economic benefits and limitations of irrigated family farming in Brazil’s semi-arid region
(2016) Hagel, Heinrich; Doluschitz, Reiner
Seit jeher wird der semi-aride Nordosten Brasiliens von schwerwiegenden Dürren heimgesucht. Schriftliche Überlieferungen reichen bis in die Zeit der Kolonialisierung des Landes gegen Ende des 17. Jahrhunderts zurück. Gegen Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts begann Brasiliens Regierung mit dem Bau größerer Reservoirs, um den Bewässerungslandbau zur Sicherung der Lebensgrundlage der ländlichen Bevölkerung zu fördern. Erst jedoch die Errichtung zahlreicher Staudämme und Stauseen zur Elektrizitätsgewinnung seit den 1960er Jahren ermöglichte die großflächige Verbreitung der Bewässerungslandbaus, wie im Falle des Rio São Francisco, an dessen Mittellauf zahlreiche Bewässerungsgebiete etabliert wurden. Trotz einer positiven wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung und beachtlichen Fortschritten in der Armutsbekämpfung leben große Teile der Landbevölkerung weiterhin in prekären Verhältnissen. Ziel dieser Dissertation war zunächst eine detaillierte Analyse der vorhandenen landwirtschaftlichen Produktionssysteme und der sozio-ökonomischen Situation der Bewässerungslandbau betreibenden Familienbetriebe entlang des Mittellaufs des Rio São Francisco. Zudem wurden die natürlichen, wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Be-schränkungen sowie die Vorzüge des Bewässerungslandbaus identifiziert. Modelle einer effizienteren Ressourcennutzung wurden erstellt und bewertet. Mit Hilfe dieser Modelle wurde schließlich der Einfluss sich verändernder Produktions- und Rahmenbedingungen auf den Bewässerungslandbau evaluiert. Als Datengrundlage dien-ten die Ergebnisse aus 60 Experteninterviews und einer Farm-Haushaltsbefragung mit 193 zufällig ausgewählten kleinbäuerlichen Familienbetrieben, ergänzt durch Sekundärdaten. Zeitreihen wurden mittels Regressionsanalyse, qualitative Daten mittels Inhaltsanalyse und die Daten der Farm-Haushaltsbefragung mittels Regressionsanalyse und Varianzanalyse ausgewertet. Einzelbetriebliche Optimierungsmodelle zu einer effizienteren Ressourcennutzung wurden mit Hilfe von linearer Programmierung optimiert. Veränderte klimatische oder infrastrukturelle Rahmenbedingungen stellten sich als große Risikofaktoren für die Produktivität des kleinbäuerlichen Bewässerungslandbaus heraus. Bereits im Untersuchungszeitraum, einer Phase mit sehr hohen Erzeugerpreisen, erzielte knapp die Hälfte der interviewten Haushalte ein landwirtschaftliches Betriebseinkommen unterhalb des gesetzlichen Mindestlohns. Unzureichende Infrastruktur, mangelhafter Marktzugang, volatile und von Zwischenhändlern bestimmte Erzeugerpreise, mangelhafte Kooperation zwischen den Kleinbauern, exzessive Bewässerung und Ausbringung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln und schließlich man-gelhafte Erfahrung im intensiven Obst- und Gemüsebau wurden als wesentliche Be-schränkungen des kleinbäuerlichen Bewässerungslandbaus in der Studienregion identifiziert. Das Fehlen landwirtschaftlicher Beratung verschärfte viele dieser Probleme. Auf der anderen Seite waren eine geeignete Wahl der angebauten Kulturen und eine großzügigere Flächenausstattung die Hauptfaktoren für wirtschaftlichen Erfolg. Innovative, geschäftstüchtige Kleinbauern, darunter einige mit geringen verfügbaren Flächen, verdeutlichten dennoch das Potential des Bewässerungslandbaus zur Bekämpfung der ländlichen Armut in der Studienregion. Die Wiederaufnahme landwirtschaftlicher Beratung, kombiniert mit Bildungsangeboten zur Steigerung des Humankapitals insbesondere bezüglich landwirtschaftlicher Betriebslehre und Kooperati-onsformen zwischen Kleinbauern, kann wesentlich zu einer Verbesserung der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion und der Lebensbedingungen der ländlichen Bevölkerung in der Studienregion beitragen. Der exzessiven Bewässerung können ein volumetrischer Wasserpreis und die Förderung effizienterer Bewässerungsmethoden entgegenwirken.