Assessment of adoption and benefits of the contour farming system in Pin Laung Township, Inle Watershed Area, Southern Shan State, Myanmar | |
| Author | Thin Nwe Htwe |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-09-11 |
| Subject(s) | Agricultural systems--Evaluation--Myanmar Contour farming--Myanmar |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for thedegree of Master of Science in Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-09-11 |
| Abstract | The mountains in the Inle lake watershed area of Myanmar have been experiencing declining soil fertility and severe soil erosion due to increased cultivation without soil conservation practices and other factors attributed to population pressure. The research deals with the assessment of adoption and benefits of contour farming approach to the use of improved soil conservation practices for the sustainable natural resources and environment of the watershed area. The main objectives of this research were to examine the influencing factors of adoption of the contour farming system, to compare management practices, crop yield and benefits, and livelihood strategies of adopters and non-adopters, and finally, to assess the farmers' perception on soil conservation practices, contour farming practices. Data collected from the stratified random sample of 98 households in Inle Lake watershed area was used logistic regression model and Weighted Average Index to estimate the factors influencing the adoption of the improved soil conservation practices. In addition, livelihood strategies' change was analyzed by using Average Index and cost-benefits ratio was utilized to compare yield and benefits of the adopters and non-adopters of contour farming. The main findings of this research showed that the farmer's perception to change their knowledge and practices on adoption of contour farming system were mainly influenced by the bio-physical factors, followed by the social-economic and the institutional factors. The factors econometric analysis explained that the adoption of soil conservation practices (contour farming) was mainly due to upland holding size, education level, and occupation that farmers who depend only on agricultural activities for their livelihood would be more likely to adopt the contour farming system on their upland farms. The research concluded that somewhat adoption of the soil conservation practices after implementation of the integrated community development project's activities, the increase in yields and benefits, and practice changed of the adopter on their farms, however as for the non-adopters change in livelihood strategies. The non-adopters have been changing their livelihood strategies from family farm labor to off-farm labor and non-farm labor in some worse area where has been being soil deterioration. Therefore, if possible government and NGOs should assist urgently to the local farmers in upland regions with financial assistance and the required advanced technology of soil conservation practices to adopt these practices to conserve natural resources, to sustain the agricultural production and to cover food security of the local poor farmers. The recommendations based on the collected data were provide to the farmers and decision makers. By this way, the farmers will convince how to practice soil conservation systems effectively and efficiently. These systems call for development of highly efficient systems of hill farming, using the land according to its capability and conserving and managing the resources most judiciously. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-09-11 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Shresth, Rajendra P. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | ADB-Japan Scholarships Program (ADB-JSP) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009 |