Incentives and disincentives for diversified agroforestry systems from different actors’ perspectives in Bolivia

ABSTRACT

Even though diversified agroforestry systems can provide sustainable livelihoods and a resilient production of different goods, adoption remains limited in Bolivia. We examine major obstacles to agroforestry adoption and possible incentives proposed by farmers and civil-society organizations, and relate them to governance and international mechanisms that might play a role in agroforestry adoption. Market access for produce from diversified agroforestry remains difficult, as does its processing and transport. Moreover, farmers have difficulties in achieving the quantities and homogenous quality demanded by markets in the major cities. But most importantly, farmers and civil-society organizations saw little government support, although ‘ecological production in harmony with Mother Earth’ is prescribed by law and the constitution. Agroforestry farmers needed support most urgently in the initial phase, when investment costs are high and returns low. They suggested affordable credits, subsidies for diversified farming systems, and insurance against fire. We identified important albeit small steps towards developing markets for agroforestry products, but government support – mostly in the form of diesel subsidies, materials, and infrastructure – mainly benefitted large-scale monocultures and cattle ranching. In response to this, interviewees opted for strengthening farmers’ organizations, for demanding support with the help of civil-society organizations, and for disseminating best practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Agroforestry adoption
• incentives
• diversified farming systems
• climate change adaptation
• Bolivia

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the agroforestry farmers who took the time to show us their plots and explain their activities and experiences, which sometimes took up half a day. The authors are also grateful to Juan Carlos Montero, Noemi Stadler-Kaulich, Anne Piepenstock, and James Johnson for valuable agroforestry contacts. Likewise, the authors wish to thank the CSO representatives and politicians they contacted, all of whom were willing to take time for an interview and showed a keen interest in the topic.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 More information at http://www.un-redd.org

2 Project homepage at http://www.arbolivia.org

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung) under Grant P2BEP1_148876.