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1 Mekuria, Wolde; Sengtaheuanghoung, O.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Noble, A. 2012. Economic contribution and the potential use of wood charcoal for soil restoration: a case study of village-based charcoal production in Central Laos. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 19(5):415-425. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2012.686070]
Wood ; Trees ; Charcoal ; Fuelwood ; Case studies ; Production possibilities ; Chemicophysical properties ; Economic aspects ; Profitability ; Biomass ; Energy consumption ; Soil improvement ; Water availability ; Forestry ; Developing countries ; Rural areas ; Income / Laos
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044884)
(0.65 MB)
Wood charcoal production provides affordable energy in many developing countries and has substantially contributed to the economy through the provision of rural incomes. In several countries, charcoal production leads to overexploitation of forests due to inefficiencies in processing. This study was undertaken in central Laos to (1) examine and document traditional charcoal production systems; (2) investigate the production capacity, recovery efficiencies and economic gains of existing traditional charcoal production methods; (3) characterize the chemical properties of wood charcoal and investigate the potential for soil restoration and (4) investigate local charcoal producers’ perception on forest degradation and their species preferences. Through a socio-economic survey, a cost-based method for economic valuation was undertaken on a range of charcoal production methods currently being used. Laboratory chemical analyses were performed on wood charcoal samples. Results indicated that the traditional mud charcoal mound was used by the majority (82%) of charcoal producers. Total charcoal production per production cycle varied between 400 (produced from 2.7 m3 of wood) and 1600 kg (produced from 18 m3 of wood), with a mean of 938 kg (±120) for traditional mud charcoal mounds. The volume of the traditional mud charcoal mounds correlated positively and significantly with total charcoal production (R2 = 0.45, p = 0.03), whereas correlated negatively and significantly with the recovery efficiency (R2 = 0.58, p = 0.01). On average, the local producers receive a total net benefit of 457,272 Lao kip (USD 57.2) in 17 days. We also identified a rice husk mound method of charcoal production, which may not encourage further deforestation while producing rice husk biochar that can be used for soil restoration. Furthermore, we found that there are significant differences (p < 0.05) between the sampled wood charcoals in chemical properties, indicating that the potential of using wood charcoal for the restoration of degraded soils varies from charcoal to charcoal.
2 McCartney, Matthew P.; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali. 2015. Wetlands, livelihoods and human health. In Finlayson, C. M.; Horwitz, P.; Weinstein, P. (Eds.). Wetlands and human health. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. pp.123-148.
Wetlands ; Living standards ; Public health ; Drugs ; Ecosystem services ; Rural communities ; Poverty ; Natural resources ; Natural disasters ; Risk reduction ; Floodplains ; Production possibilities ; Financing ; Social participation ; Water supply ; Agriculture ; Institutions
(Location: IWMI Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047154)
(2.00 MB)
In developing countries millions of people live a life of subsistence agriculture, mired in poverty, with limited access to basic human needs, such as food and water. Under such circumstances wetlands, through the provision of a range of direct and indirect ecosystem services, play a vital role in supporting and sustaining peoples’ livelihoods and hence, their health. This chapter discusses the role of wetlands in the context of the sustainable livelihoods framework in which wetlands are viewed as an asset for the rural poor in the form of “natural capital”. The framework is used to illustrate how ecosystem services, livelihoods and health are entwined and how the ecosystem services provided by wetlands can be converted to human health either directly or via other livelihood assets. It highlights the contributions that wetlands make to basic human needs and, either directly or through transformations to other forms of livelihood capital, the support they provide to livelihoods and overall well-being.
3 Hagos, Fitsum; Haileslassie, Amare; Getnet, Kindie; Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria; Bogale, A.; Getahun, Y. 2016. Marketing patterns of rainfed and irrigated systems: do they differ? Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) 29p. (Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Working Paper 14)
Irrigation systems ; Rainfed farming ; Marketing techniques ; Economic aspects ; Farmers ; Irrigated farming ; Crops ; Cereal crops ; Grain legumes ; Vegetables ; Fruits ; Production possibilities ; Econometric models ; Households ; Irrigated land ; Land ownership / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047626)
(67.8 KB)
This study used nationwide dataset of 5000 households from four regions in Ethiopia to identify important determinants of market orientation, market participation and market outlet choices. The study used ordinary least square and instrumental regression and multivariate probit (MVP) techniques to do just that. Market-orientation was affected by productive capacity, oxen, total land area, irrigated land area, access to irrigation, and access to market information. Market participation is, in turn, affected by market oriented production, productive capacity and the availability of market information. With respect to outlet choices, the important role of market access conditions (mainly roads and storage facilities) and services (extension services and access to micro credit) were found to be important. Expanding the necessary infrastructure for irrigation development or creating the conditions for household adoption of different irrigation technologies is important for market production and participation and outlet choice decisions of households. Provision of adequate and timely marketing information is also another entry point to transform agriculture.
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