An analysis of the joint adoption of water conservation and soil conservation in Central Chile

Studies reveal that 80% of the world's agricultural land is showing signs of moderate levels of soil erosion. On the other hand, it is a fact that water is becoming a more scarce resource jeopardizing food security. Thus, conserving both water and soil are two of the most pressing issues in international agriculture and food production. This article examines the impact of natural, social, human, and financial capital variables on the adoption of water conservation and soil conservation (WC&SC) as a joint decision, using a bivariate model. Socioeconomic and production information was collected by surveying a random sample of 319 small-scale irrigated farms in central Chile in 2005. The results suggest that the adoption of WC&SC is a joint and complementary decision. The results also indicate that farm size, production system, access to credit, and government incentives are important variables associated with the adoption of conservation measures. From a policy stand point, the institutions in charge of providing incentives and administering instruments intended to promote conservation should take into account the complementarity of the adoption decisions. Program designs should incorporate incentives that jointly promote the adoption of WC&SC in order to enhance effectiveness.

► Factors that explain the joint adoption of water conservation and soil conservation were studied.
► The results suggest that water conservation and soil conservation are adopted jointly.
► Monocultural fruit producers are less likely than mixed-crop farmers to adopt soil conservation.
► The role of incentives and access to credit have a positive impact on farmers’ conservation decision.
► Water communities can play a leading role in promoting technology adoption among small-scale farmers.