Returns to Farm‐Level Soil Conservation on Tropical Steep Slopes: The Case of the Eritrean Highlands
研究了厄立特里亚高地简单土壤保持技术的经济回报，发现从农民角度看短期不可行，但社会净收益为正，为政府提供激励措施提供了依据。
This study conducts an economic analysis of investment in simple soil conservation technologies in the highlands of Eritrea. The data used in the analysis were obtained from a farm survey and supplemented with data from secondary sources. Risk analysis techniques are used to take account of the uncertainties regarding the relationship between soil erosion and crop yield. The financial analysis reveals negative net present values (NPV s ) and internal rates of return (IRR s ) below 12 per cent for various slope categories. On the other hand, the economic analysis returns positive NPV s and IRR s of over 20 per cent. The results clearly indicate that investment in soil conservation technology may not be a viable short‐term proposition from the farmer's point of view and yet the net social benefits are positive. There is a strong case for government to provide incentives for soil conservation in view of the economic benefits.