Browsing by Author "Barrera, Victor H."

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    Adaptación de la agricultura y la ganadería al cambio climático en los Andes: Experiencias desde el ámbito de la I+D+i
    Barrera, Victor H. (2012)
    Presentation on applicability of conservation agriculture techniques for mitigation of climate change.
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    Adaptive watershed management in the South American Highlands: Learning and teaching on the fly
    Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2008)
    The purpose of this poster is to describe an adaptive watershed management process in Chimbo, Ecuador. We show the conceptual framework and our empirical strategy. We present results showing that ethnic and agro-ecologic diversity in the watershed mean that technical interventions must be tailored to local conditions and the process of moving knowledge to action is highly context specific. Low incomes and high vulnerability of human populations mean that livelihood alternatives must be identified and incorporated into the adaptive plan.
  • Adaptive watershed management in the South American highlands: Learning and teaching on the fly
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Barrera, Victor H.; Andrade, R.; Hamilton, S.; Norton, George W. (Ankeny, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society, 2009)
    This chapter describes the Chimbo watershed in the Bolivar Province in Ecuador and efforts that are being made to increase agricultural productivity and soil quality in this area. It begins by explaining the landscape along the Guayas River in this Andean region and its relation to the loss of biodiversity and decreasing crop productivity. Because the top of the Chimbo watershed is in the steeply-sloped Andes, agriculture-related pollution and water quality are becoming a huge concern. Low productivity and environmental degradation are causing high rates of poverty in Ecuador and putting a lot of pressure on smallholders to sustain their families and livelihoods.
  • Agricultural innovation for enhanced natural resources in the Ecuador Highlands
    Barrera, Victor H.; Jeffrey, A. (New Agriculturalist: Research and Innovation, 2012-05)
    Collaborative relationships between various stakeholders - government officials, community leaders, farmers, and international researchers - were formed to improve natural resources and environmental conditions in Ecuador's highlands. Maps of current ecological conditions were created using local information and perceptions. Farmers and researchers then used these maps during the creation of on-farm research projects that aimed to test various production systems. These agricultural production systems were evaluated for ecological impact, labor demand, and change in farmer income. Conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, and utilization of improved crop varieties were also evaluated for impact on local ecological conditions. Encouraging participation by all stakeholders, participatory research, consensus building within communities were found to be necessary factors in the successful management of local environmental degradation.
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    Análisis de la viabilidad socio-económica y ambiental del sistema de producción papa-leche en la microcuenca del río Illangama-Ecuador
    Barrera, Victor H.; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Cruz Collaguazo, E. P. (Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal, 2010)
    De acuerdo al Índice de Necesidades Básicas Insatisfechas (NBI), en la microcuenca del río Illangama, alrededor del 76% de la población es pobre y sus ingresos están entre US$120 y 160 por mes, aún después de adoptar sistemas complejos con un alto potencial de producción. El más importante de ellos es el sistema papa-leche que aporta la mayor proporción de ingresos familiares y garantiza su seguridad alimentaria. Desde este punto de vista, se realizó un análisis de la viabilidad socio-económica y ambiental del sistema con el propósito de establecer su eficiencia y flexibilidad bajo nuevas condiciones. Este análisis se basa en la información compilada de diferentes fuentes, niveles y escalas, mediante estudios de campo, investigación experimental y observación de parcelas de productores. Los resultados evidencian que el sistema tiene el más alto potencial de productividad en el área y es viable adoptar porque incrementa la producción y los ingresos. Representa la mejor opción debido a que los productores disponen de los medios de producción y mano de obra familiar, lo cual permitirá que el sistema sea sostenible. Desde el punto de vista ambiental, si el sistema es manejado adecuadamente con la implementación de alternativas tecnológicas, amigables con el ambiente, detendría el avance de la frontera agrícola hacia áreas de páramo. El sistema es una opción que los gobiernos locales deberían impulsar para preservar el ecosistema páramo. (Resumen de autores)
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    Assessment of nitrogen dynamics and cropping system sustainability in the Andean region of South America with a new tool available for computers and smartphones
    Delgado, Jorge A.; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Escudero, Luis O.; Saavedra, Ana Karina; Monar, Carlos; Barrera, Victor H.; Botello, Rubén C. (2013)
    Implementation of best soil and water conservation practices will be key to addressing challenges we will confront in the 21st century. With challenges such as climate change and continued population growth, there is a need for tools that can help us quickly assess how to maintain sustainability of cropping systems, which will be essential for maximizing agricultural production, especially in fragile soils of the Andean region of South America. Nitrogen (N) inputs are key for agricultural production, but because N is so mobile, high efficiency in the management and use of N input is necessary to reduce risk of N losses to the environment while maximizing production. One of the key crops in this region is the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop. This crop leaves a small amount of crop residue after harvest, which increases the potential for a high rate of erosion, especially in the steep soils where the crop is cultivated in this region. A new Nitrogen Index with a Sustainability Index has been calibrated and validated for this region. The tool is available in the English and Spanish languages and can be run in metric or English units. It can be run on desktop and laptop computers (using the software written in the programming language Java™), or on a smartphone that has the Android™ system (via the “app”). The tool is very user friendly and can be used by conservationists, field agronomists, technical personnel, and others. It was found that the tool can accurately assess nitrogen dynamics and evaluate the crop uptake for crops grown in this region, such as corn (Zea mays L.) and potato (P
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    Assessment of nitrogen dynamics and cropping system sustainability in the Andean segion of South America with a new tool available for computers and smartphones
    Delgado, Jorge A.; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Escudero, Luis O.; Saavedra, Ana Karina; Monar, Carlos; Barrera, Victor H.; Botello, Rubén C. (2013)
    Implementation of best soil and water conservation practices will be key to addressing challenges we will confront in the 21st century. With challenges such as climate change and continued population growth, there is a need for tools that can help us quickly assess how to maintain sustainability of cropping systems, which will be essential for maximizing agricultural production, especially in fragile soils of the Andean region of South America.
  • La cadena de valor del cacao y el bienestar de los productores en la provincia de Manabí-Ecuador
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Barrera, Victor H.; Casanova, T.; Dominguez, Juan M.; Escudero, Luis O.; Loor, G.; Pena, G.; Parraga, J.; Arevalo, Juan; Quiroz, Jaime; Tarqui, O.; Zambrano, F.; Rodriguez, G.; Garcia, G.; Racine, M. (ARCOIRIS Producción Gráfica, 2018-12-20)
    En la provincia de Manabí, el cultivo de cacao y su comercialización es una estrategia de supervivencia importante para un gran número de pequeños agricultores. Sin embargo, el desconocimiento de la cadena de producción-consumo del cacao podría afectar la competitividad de ciertos productores y, consecuentemente, sus ingresos. Enfoques de la cadena de valor del cacao sugieren que el bienestar de los productores y consumidores se puede aumentar, centrándose en acciones específicas a lo largo de esta cadena. Usando datos primarios recogidos a través de encuestas cara-a-cara a una muestra de productores y acopiadores de cacao, así como también a empresas exportadoras y que procesan cacao proveniente de esta provincia, en el periodo de mayo a noviembre 2018, este estudio aplicó un enfoque de cadena de valor para examinar cómo los productores de cacao en Manabí pueden mejorar sus prácticas de producción y comercialización para obtener precios más favorables. Específicamente, se realizó la caracterización de los hogares que producen cacao, se definió las estrategias de medios de vida que diferencian a los grupos de hogares que producen cacao, se determinaron los actores relevantes en la comercialización del cacao, y se establecieron las mejoras en la cadena de valor y sus impactos en el precio recibido. Los resultados muestran que las actividades de mejoramiento de la cadena de valor del cacao están asociadas con mejores precios al productor, y que actividades específicas (ejemplo: asociarse y entregar el producto a empresas confiables) pueden conducir a mejoras sustanciales del bienestar de los productores. Las prácticas en la finca para mejorar la aceptación y la preparación para el mercado del cacao pueden conducir a la obtención de retornos interesantes, y acciones para incrementar las mejoras, muchas de las cuales no implican riesgo o inversión sustancial, también son asociadas con mejoras en los precios. Este estudio muestra que los obstáculos para la participación en las mejoras de la cadena de valor son superables. En particular, la escala de producción no es un factor limitante: los productores de pequeña escala tienen la posibilidad de adoptar prácticas mejoradas que les permitiría recibir precios más altos. Los esfuerzos por mejorar la cadena de valor del cacao podrían tener amplio impacto no sólo en los productores sino también en los procesadores que se verían beneficiados por recibir cacao de mejor calidad, así como también cantidades y precios más constantes.
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    Conservation Agriculture as a Potential Pathway to Better Resource Management, Higher Productivity, and Improved Socio-Economic Conditions in the Andean Region
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Botello, Rubén C.; Barrera, Victor H. (2011)
    Poster describes SANREM conservation agriculture project in Ecuador and Bolivia.
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    Conservation Agriculture as a Potential Pathway to Better Resource Management, Higher Productivity, and Improved Socio-Economic Conditions in the Andean Region
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Gallagher, R.; Botello, Rubén C.; Barrera, Victor H. (2011)
    Poster presents an overview of SANREM research in Andes.
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    Conservation agriculture can help the South American Andean region achieve food security
    Barrera, Victor H.; Delgado, Jorge A.; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2021-09-15)
    The Andean region of Ecuador is dominated by small-scale agriculture on steep slopes vulnerable to erosion, soil degradation, and subsequent productivity loss. Soil erosion rates exceed the average rate of soil formation by 9-286 times, making current agricultural practices in the region unsustainable, and threatening to increase food insecurity. The projected effects of a changing climate vary across the Andean region, with higher precipitation and erosion rates projected for some areas. However, even in areas where the precipitation rates are expected to be lower, the projected erosion rates will still be unsustainable. Research on conservation agriculture (CA) practices conducted from 2008 to 2017 in the highlands of Ecuador suggests that yields and cost savings ultimately make several CA production systems profitable compared to conventional practices. In the very short term, large gains did not emerge, and the best that could be said about CA is that it did not reduce productivity. Over the medium term, improvements in soil health (lower erosion) led to higher profitability that made the practices more profitable than conventional practices over the entire rotation. However, adoption of these alternatives by local producers, even in research areas, is low. Lack of public or private agricultural extension contributes to slow diffusion of new technology and best management practices in the region. There is a need to develop improved communication with local farmers to more effectively relay how CA protects the soil, mitigates degradation, and provides a means to achieve food security and avoid a humanitarian crisis.
  • Conservation agriculture in the Andean highlands: Promise and precautions
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Norton, George W.; Barrera, Victor H.; Botello, Rubén C. (Springer, 2013)
    This chapter examines the potential of conservation agriculture (CA) to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability in highly sloped areas and inter-Andean valley in post-land reform areas of the AR. Conservation agriculture (CA) is as a set of practices intended to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of resources through integrated management of soil, water and biological resources combined with external inputs. In its purest form, CA is based on three principles: (i) minimum or no mechanical soil disturbance; (ii) permanent organic soil cover; and (iii) diversified crop rotations.
  • Dairy markets and access to higher value chains in Illangama watershed, Ecuador
    Weeks, H.; Slusher, W.; Célleri, M.; Barrera, Victor H.; Norton, George W. (2008)
    This presentation discusses the dairy research component of the SANREM CRSP Long term research activity (LTRA) 3: "Watershed-based Natural Resource Management for Small-scale Agriculture." The objectives of this project component are:
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    Determining Costs of Conventional and Conservation Agricultural Practices
    Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Boatwright, Jessica; DuBreuil, Katherine; Gaffney, Robert; Moore, Lauren; Latané, Annah; Simmons, Trevor (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2011)
    Farmers in the Chimbo watershed face problems with soil erosion as a result of the steep slopes and mountainous terrain. In order to help address these environmental concerns and increase farmer profitability and yields, an analysis was conducted to determine the costs of production under conventional and reduced tillage methods on fava beans, beans, maize, and potato. A specific questionnaire was created for both the Illangama and Alumbre watersheds and utilized in these areas. The information provided from research performed in the Chimbo watershed indicates that only conventional tillage bean and reduced tillage bean budgets experience positive net revenue. All other budgets were indicative of net losses for farmers. The data sets all contained considerable variation alluding to the fact that research yielding more accurate measurements is necessary in the future. Additionally, the variability in price at both the farm level and commercial markets make it difficult to accurately judge the cost of production at this time for the investigated crops. By identifying the actual costs of production, research agencies will be able to better understand the constraints faced by agricultural producers within the watershed. Addressing these limitations and practices will help researchers identify factors that affect crop yields, in an effort to improve farmer profits and soil health.
  • Did You Really Get the Message? Using Text Reminders to Stimulate Adoption of Agricultural Technologies
    Larochelle, Catherine; Alwang, Jeffrey R.; Travis, Elli; Barrera, Victor H.; Dominguez Andrade, Juan Manuel (2017-11-02)
    This article provides evidence from a randomised control trial conducted among potato farmers in Ecuador about the impact of mobile phone text messages on farmer knowledge about and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Using psychological constructs, we examine competing explanations for non-standard decision-making leading to low adoption of beneficial agricultural technologies. Farmers who received text messages have significantly higher knowledge and are more likely to adopt most IPM practices than those in the control group. Findings provide evidence that text messages lead to behavioural changes by reducing inattention and sub-optimal heuristics in the face of complex decisions.
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    Does density fractionation of SOC represent chemically different carbon pools?
    Mulvaney, Michael J.; Graham, M.; Xia, K.; Barrera, Victor H.; Botello, Rubén C.; Saavedra, Ana Karina; Mamani, Pablo (2012)
    Organic matter stabilization is thought to be a process of physical protection and chemical recalcitrance. The determination of recalcitrant soil organic carbon (SOC) often relies on operational definitions provided by various fractionation techniques, usually particle size or density fractionation. However, it is unknown if these operational definitions represent true chemical recalcitrance.
  • Enhancing natural resources in Ecuador's highlands
    Barrera, Victor H.; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), 2012)
    To enhance natural resources in Ecuador's highlands, a research partnership was formed between Ecuador's national agricultural research institute, several US universities and local farmers. To help identify and introduce environmentally friendly farming practices to the area, the research program used an adaptive watershed management process, which involves consultation with stakeholders, formation of a watershed plan and ongoing research and monitoring to adapt the plan over time.