Unlocking sustainable livestock production potential in the Colombian Amazon through paddock division and gender inclusivity
Silvopastoral systems can cut livestock emissions, yet adoption in Colombia’s Amazon Piedmont is low. Using paddock‑level data, the study finds gender, resources and knowledge drive uptake: women‑managed, smaller, and better‑funded paddocks adopt more SPS. Expanding credit and training can boost SPS adoption and support low‑emission production.
Subject Tags
- Agriculture
- Regenerative food systems
- Social Sciences
Abstract
Low-emissions livestock production can be achieved through scaling production systems integrating trees, forages, and livestock within the same area. Such systems are known as silvopastoral production systems (SPS). However, despite SPS reported benefits, adoption rates globally remain low. This paper, therefore, aims to inform land use policy oriented towards increasing SPS adoption. This study intends to capture this by assessing SPS adoption benefits, identifying determinants of SPS adoption, and thus to contribute to policy for scaling low-emissions livestock production. Data was collected on socioeconomic status, livestock farming technical and economic indicators, and farm and paddock practices through farm-level surveys in four municipalities in the Amazon Piedmont of Colombia. Unlike previous studies that assume homogeneous farm management, when in fact, it is heterogeneous, this study assessed SPS adoption determinants using the paddock (n = 2819) as the unit of analysis. This methodological approach is consistent with paddock-level land use decisions taken by farmers based on socioeconomic and biophysical factors such as soil financial resources, type, and topography. The methodological approach allows us to provide new insights into the determinant of adopting SPS and an understanding of intra-farm level land use decisions. The results show that the adoption of SPS at both paddocks and farm levels in Caquetá is low. The main factors associated with higher SPS adoption levels at the paddock level are framed in gender, resources, and knowledge. We observe that women are more motivated to conserve the environment. Cattle paddocks managed by women, smaller in size, and those with more SPS-related projects show a tendency for medium or high SPS adoption. Furthermore, the positive relationship between access to credit and SPS adoption emphasizes the importance of financial resources tailored to SPS projects. Enhancing gender roles, improving access to finance in land use, and providing training programs on SPS systems can contribute to low-emission livestock production in Colombia. This research paper highlights the significance of implementing diverse management strategies and reaching out to farmers not involved in SPS projects. It emphasizes investments in low-emission livestock production, especially for female heads of households. This approach recognizes the broader benefits of SPS, beyond production and financial gains, promoting the division of paddocks and the adoption of SPS.
Citation
Castro-Nunez, A., Buritica, A., Holmann, F., Ngaiwi, M., Quintero, M., Solarte, A. and Gonzalez, C., 2024. Unlocking sustainable livestock production potential in the Colombian Amazon through paddock division and gender inclusivity. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.13644. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63697-2
TNC Authors
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Antonio Solarte
Sustainable Productive Systems Leader, Northern Andes and South Central America
The Nature Conservancy
Email: antonio.solarte@tnc.org