This book is a timely contribution towards the debate on the most effective way to bring about sustainable farming in marginal areas. It offers a detailed analysis of the social, economic, and agro-ecological characteristic of both Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) and Better Land Husbandry (BLH) and an analysis of case studies of BLH from Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

Series Preface

vii

Preface

ix

Acknowledgements

xi

Introduction to Better Land Husbandry

1

(19)

Land and Soil Degradation

1

(5)

Soil Conservation Technologies

6

(4)

Better Land Husbandry Approach

10

(8)

Winning the Debate?

18

(2)

Social and Economic Components of Better Land Husbandry

20

(61)

Conventional Soil Conservation Approach

20

(6)

Farmers' Realities

26

(9)

Putting Farmers First

35

(7)

Unlocking the Complexity of Farmers' Realities

42

(12)

Farmers' Priority Needs

54

(8)

Obstacles to Better Land Management

62

(10)

Farmers' Relationship with Outsiders

72

(4)

Tapping into Farmers' Resourcefulness

76

(5)

Agro-ecological Components of Better Land Husbandry

81

(59)

Questioning the Soil Conservation Approach

81

(1)

Soil Erosion Processes

82

(5)

Are the Data Reliable?

87

(8)

Testing the Soil Conservation Approach

95

(21)

Measuring Rainfall

116

(4)

Impacts of Conventional Agriculture

120

(7)

Effectiveness of Soil Conservation Technologies

127

(8)

Soil Conservation and Site Variability

135

(3)

Time for a Rethink

138

(2)

Better Land Husbandry: A New Paradigm

140

(45)

Soil Conservation Versus Better Land Husbandry

140

(1)

New Perspectives on Soil Erosion and Land Degradation

141

(8)

Importance of Soil Quality

149

(13)

Maintaining and Improving Soil Quality

162

(15)

Lessons for Outsiders

177

(4)

Better Land Husbandry: Why has It Taken so Long?

181

(4)

Better Land Husbandry in Practice

185

(33)

Introduction to Case Studies

185

(1)

Zero Tillage in South America

185

(7)

Soil Cover in Honduras

192

(3)

Farmer Participation in Honduras

195

(10)

Soil Moisture and Yields in Africa

205

(5)

Hurricane Mitch: From Soil Erosion to Landslides

210

(8)

Better Land Husbandry and Policy

218

(26)

A New Approach to Land Management

218

(1)

Future of Smallholder Farming

219

(3)

A New Professionalism

222

(6)

From Production to Markets

228

(5)

Broadening the Policy Agenda

233

(5)

Better Land Husbandry and Future Research

238

(6)

Appendix 1---Impact Monitoring and Assessment

244

(24)

References

268

(42)

Index

310

(7)

Colour Plates 1--8

317

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