Small steps in the right direction: Preferences of small-scale farmers for sustainable cattle systems in Guaviare, Colombian Amazon

This paper investigates the preferences of smallholder farmers residing in the agricultural frontier of the Colombia Amazon’s Forest, specifically in the department of Guaviare, regarding interventions aimed at promoting the adoption of sustainable land-use systems. We focus on the transition from extensive livestock systems to sustainable livestock systems and agroforestry systems. The adoption of silvopastoral systems presents a significant opportunity for sustainable development, offering land-saving advantages that can be leveraged by programs to encourage other sustainable value chains, such as timber in agroforestry systems. Through a discrete choice experiment, we examine farmer preferences concerning land allocation, cash bonuses for permanence, and technical assistance. Additionally, we assess how socioeconomic factors influence farmers’ decision-making in participating in such programs. Our findings indicate that while farmers exhibit a preference for allocating land to silvopastoral systems over agroforestry, they also show considerable interest in interventions involving a small proportion of timber in agroforestry systems. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that permanence bonuses tied to individual effort can enhance participation, while collective goals may hinder it.