Owning the land, but at what cost? Changes in power relations and land accumulation in cattle ranching in wartime Colombia

Given the length of the conflict and multiplicity of actors embedded in the Colombian war, it becomes necessary to understand the impact that violence, displacement and dispossession have amongst rural producers and in the agroeconomic sector in general. The struggle for land tenure, the management of natural resources, and the economic and social centrality of cattle ranching for various armed actors, are therefore vital aspects to consider in understanding the effects of the conflict in rural Colombia. Important contributions have been made, shedding light on the nature of war in Colombia and its negative societal effects, as well as a vast theoretical corpus has been established on the importance of livestock, not only for producing families, but also for rural elites and other active agents of armed confrontation. However, in addition to the already known effects, both of war (such as dispossession, displacement, loss of social order, poverty, etc.), and the role of livestock in it (as a means of financing confrontation, among others), the information available in Colombia suggests that other important and unexpected changes take place in land tenure, especially for women farmers. This research thus delves into the transformations in the ownership of the agricultural production units (UPA) dedicated to livestock production during the escalation of conflict in Colombia (2001-2012), to understand the relationship between war and societal dynamics of land tenure through a quantitative approach. Available data indicates that dynamics such as displacement, increasing violence rates and territorial instability contribute, at least to a certain extent, to transforming family dynamics and patterns in land tenure and administration. This is relevant not only for understanding the complexity of women's roles and functions within livestock farming, and for the analysis of their contingent agency in war contexts, but also contributes to a larger narrative on the unexpected outcomes of a longstanding war. Here we revisit the narratives about the role and participation of women in conflict and in livestock farming, while also exploring the circumstances in which gender roles, family relations and land ownership can shift

An Economic Evaluation of an Intensive Silvo-Pastoral System in San Martín, Peru

The cattle sector plays a critical role in Peru’s agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges related to low productivity and environmental degradation. Sustainable alternatives like silvo-pastoral systems (SPSs) offer promising solutions to enhance both economic returns and ecological outcomes in cattle farming. This study examines the economic viability of an intensive SPS (SPSi) compared to traditional monoculture grass systems in San Martín, Peru. The SPSi under study is in the evaluation phase, integrates grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees, and has the potential to enhance cattle farming profitability while simultaneously offering environmental benefits such as improved soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Through a discounted cash flow model over an eight-year period, key profitability indicators—Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Benefit–Cost Ratio (BC), and payback period—were estimated for four dual-purpose cattle production scenarios: a traditional system and three SPSi scenarios (pessimistic, moderate, and optimistic). Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to assess risk, ensuring robust results. The results show that the NPV for the traditional system was a modest USD 61, while SPSi scenarios ranged from USD 9564 to USD 20,465. The IRR improved from 8.17% in the traditional system to between 26.63% and 30.33% in SPSi scenarios, with a shorter payback period of 4.5 to 5.8 years, compared to 7.98 years in the traditional system. Additionally, the SPSi demonstrated a 30% increase in milk production and a 50% to 250% rise in stocking rates per hectare. The study recommends, subject to pending validations through field trials, promoting SPSi adoption through improved access to credit, technical assistance, and policy frameworks that compensate farmers for ecosystem services. Policymakers should also implement monitoring mechanisms to mitigate unintended consequences, such as deforestation, ensuring that SPSi expansion aligns with sustainable land management practices. Overall, the SPSi presents a viable solution for achieving economic resilience and environmental sustainability in Peru’s cattle sector

An economic evaluation of an intensive silvo-pastoral system in San Martín, Peru

The cattle sector plays a critical role in Peru’s agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges related to low productivity and environmental degradation. Sustainable alternatives like silvo-pastoral systems (SPSs) offer promising solutions to enhance both economic returns and ecological outcomes in cattle farming. This study examines the economic viability of an intensive SPS (SPSi) compared to traditional monoculture grass systems in San Martín, Peru. The SPSi under study is in the evaluation phase, integrates grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees, and has the potential to enhance cattle farming profitability while simultaneously offering environmental benefits such as improved soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Through a discounted cash flow model over an eight-year period, key profitability indicators—Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Benefit–Cost Ratio (BC), and payback period—were estimated for four dual-purpose cattle production scenarios: a traditional system and three SPSi scenarios (pessimistic, moderate, and optimistic). Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to assess risk, ensuring robust results. The results show that the NPV for the traditional system was a modest USD 61, while SPSi scenarios ranged from USD 9564 to USD 20,465. The IRR improved from 8.17% in the traditional system to between 26.63% and 30.33% in SPSi scenarios, with a shorter payback period of 4.5 to 5.8 years, compared to 7.98 years in the traditional system. Additionally, the SPSi demonstrated a 30% increase in milk production and a 50% to 250% rise in stocking rates per hectare. The study recommends, subject to pending validations through field trials, promoting SPSi adoption through improved access to credit, technical assistance, and policy frameworks that compensate farmers for ecosystem services. Policymakers should also implement monitoring mechanisms to mitigate unintended consequences, such as deforestation, ensuring that SPSi expansion aligns with sustainable land management practices. Overall, the SPSi presents a viable solution for achieving economic resilience and environmental sustainability in Peru’s cattle sector