IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/eptddp/97464.html

Determinants of land use change: evidence from a community study in Honduras

Author

Listed:
  • Bergeron, Gilles
  • Pender, John L.

Abstract

This study investigates the micro-determinants of land use change using community, household and plot histories, an ethnographic method that constructs panel data from systematic oral recalls. A 20-year historical timeline (1975-1995) is constructed for the village of La Lima in central Honduras, based on a random sample of 97 plots. Changes in land use are examined using transition analysis and multinomial logit analysis. Transition analysis shows that land use transitions were relatively infrequent in areas under extensive cultivation, but more so in areas of intensive cultivation; and that most changes favored intensification. Econometric analysis suggests that land use intensification was influenced by plot level variables (especially altitude, slope, distance to a road and tenure), farm level variables (human capital, farm size, and ownership of productive implements), and by community variables (especially presence of technical assistance programs). To the extent these results are found to be more broadly representative, they suggest that there may be good potential to promote income-enhancing horticultural development through investments in technical assistance and education in similar communities elsewhere in Honduras. The study concludes that the plot history approach is a potentially valuable tool for investigating the underlying causes of change in land use at the micro-level. The method is particularly well adapted to situations where the availability of data is poor. It is also suggested that the approach would have additional benefits when replicated over a large number of sites as this would allow integration of higher order determinants (e.g. national policies and market incentives) while expanding the applicability and representativity of findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Bergeron, Gilles & Pender, John L., 1999. "Determinants of land use change: evidence from a community study in Honduras," EPTD Discussion Papers 97464, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:eptddp:97464
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.97464
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/97464/files/eptdp46.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.97464?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Smith, Joyotee & Barau, Anthony D & Goldman, Abraham & Mareck, James H, 1994. "The Role of Technology in Agricultural Intensification: The Evolution of Maize Production in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(3), pages 537-554, April.
    2. Barbier, Bruno & Bergeron, Gilles, 1998. "Natural resource management in the hillsides of Honduras: bioeconomic modeling at the micro-watershed level," EPTD discussion papers 32, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. G. S. Maddala, 1987. "Limited Dependent Variable Models Using Panel Data," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 22(3), pages 307-338.
    4. Pender, John L., 1996. "Discount rates and credit markets: Theory and evidence from rural india," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 257-296, August.
    5. Hazell, P. B. R. & Scherr, Sara J., 1994. "Sustainable agricultural development strategies in fragile lands:," EPTD discussion papers 1, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Frank Place & Peter Hazell, 1993. "Productivity Effects of Indigenous Land Tenure Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 75(1), pages 10-19.
    7. John L. Pender & John M. Kerr, 1998. "Determinants of farmers' indigenous soil and water conservation investments in semi‐arid India," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 19(1-2), pages 113-125, September.
    8. Barbier, Bruno & Bergeron, Gilles, 1998. "Natural Resource Management In The Hillsides Of Honduras: Bioeconomic Modeling At The Micro-Watershed Level," EPTD Discussion Papers 16058, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Scherr, Sara J. & Hazell, Peter B.R., 1994. "Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategies In Fragile Lands," EPTD Discussion Papers 16060, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Durón, Guadalupe & Pender, John L. & Scherr, Sara J., 1999. "Pathways of development in the hillsides of Honduras: causes and implications for agricultural production, poverty, and sustainable resource use," EPTD discussion papers 45, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Binswanger, Hans P & McIntire, John, 1987. "Behavioral and Material Determinants of Production Relations in Land-Abundant Tropical Agriculture," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(1), pages 73-99, October.
    12. Binswanger, Hans P, 1981. "Attitudes toward Risk: Theoretical Implications of an Experiment in Rural India," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 91(364), pages 867-890, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pender, John L., 1999. "Rural population growth, agricultural change and natural resource management in developing countries: a review of hypotheses and some evidence from Honduras," EPTD discussion papers 48, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Pender, John & Nkonya, Ephraim & Jagger, Pamela & Sserunkuuma, Dick & Ssali, Henry, 2004. "Strategies to increase agricultural productivity and reduce land degradation: evidence from Uganda," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 31(2-3), pages 181-195, December.
    3. Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Pender, John L. & Kaizzi, Crammer & Edward, Kato & Mugarura, Samuel, 2005. "Policy Options for Increasing Crop Productivity and Reducing Soil Nutrient Depletion and Poverty in Uganda," EPTD Discussion Papers 59227, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Barbier, Bruno & Bergeron, Gilles, 2001. "Natural resource management in the hillsides of Honduras: bioeconomic modeling at the micro-watershed level," Research reports 123, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Tankari, Mahamadou Roufahi, 2015. "Action Levers For A Sustainable Farmland Management In Niger," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 3(4), pages 1-12, October.
    6. Pender, John L. & Scherr, Sara J., 1999. "Organizational development and natural resource management: evidence from central Honduras," EPTD discussion papers 49, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Jagger, Pamela & Pender, John L., 2003. "Impacts of programs and organizations on the adoption of sustainable land management technologies in Uganda," EPTD discussion papers 101, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Chamberlin, Jordan & Pender, John L. & Yu, Bingxin, 2006. "Development domains for Ethiopia: capturing the geographical context of smallholder development options," DSGD Discussion Papers 55410, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Pender, John L. & Kato, Edward & Mugarura, Samuel & Muwonge, James, 2005. "Who knows, who cares?: Determinants of enactment, awareness and compliance with community natural resource management," CAPRi working papers 41, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Pender, John L. & Jagger, Pamela & Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Sserunkuuma, Dick, 2001. "Development Pathways And Land Management In Uganda: Causes And Implications," EPTD Discussion Papers 16124, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Chamberlin, Jordan & Pender, John & Yu, Bingxin, 2006. "Development domains for Ethiopia: capturing the geographical context of smallholder development options," EPTD discussion papers 159, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. McCarthy, Nancy & Kamara, Abdul B. & Kirk, Michael, 2001. "The Effect Of Environmental Variability On Livestock And Land-Use Management: The Borana Plateau, Southern Ethiopia," EPTD Discussion Papers 16083, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    13. Wilfred Nyangena, 2008. "Social determinants of soil and water conservation in rural Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 745-767, December.
    14. Ehui, Simeon K. & Pender, John L. & Place, Frank, 1999. "Strategies for sustainable agricultural development in the East African highlands:," EPTD discussion papers 41, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Pender, John L. & Scherr, Sara J., 1999. "Organizational Development And Natural Resource Management: Evidence From Central Honduras," EPTD Discussion Papers 97503, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    16. Pender, John, 2004. "Development pathways for hillsides and highlands: some lessons from Central America and East Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 339-367, August.
    17. Pender, John L. & Jagger, Pamela & Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Sserunkuuma, Dick, 2001. "Development pathways and land management in Uganda: causes and implications," EPTD discussion papers 85, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    18. Andersson, Camilla & Mekonnen, Alemu & Stage, Jesper, 2011. "Impacts of the Productive Safety Net Program in Ethiopia on livestock and tree holdings of rural households," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 119-126, January.
    19. Holden, Stein T. & Tilahun, Mesfin, 2019. "How related are risk preferences and time preferences?," CLTS Working Papers 4/19, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies, revised 16 Oct 2019.
    20. Manyong, Victor M. & Houndékon, Victorin A., 2000. "Land tenurial systems and the adoption of Mucuna planted fallow in the derived savannas of West Africa," CAPRi working papers 4, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:eptddp:97464. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ifprius.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.