Book Reviews

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Household Production Strategies in a Climatic Variable Zone

This paper examines the types of strategies rural households in the Bolivian Altiplano utilize to secure income and food consumption. Constrains to choice sets, climate, knowledge systems and social and human capital have influential roles in the ability of a household to secure income and food, and the livelihood strategies employed. For household welfare to increase development agencies must take into account the factors influencing these strategies. Climate, local knowledge systems and modern technology are important in shaping household production strategies. Production decisions are made within the household unit. A livelihood strategies approach was used to conduct the research that would reflect the diverse strategies and influences that a household confronts and uses annual to make production decisions. Research was conducted over a seven-year period in San Jose Llanga, Bolivia, which is a small rural town 90 Km south of the capital of the country, La Paz. Each year of the survey data was collected from 45 households. Twenty-nine of these households were surveyed three times during the seven-year period (1993, 1995 and 1999). The study using factor analysis shows that there are four essential factors, which are important in securing income and food: human capital, traditional agricultural practices, food plots, grazed cows, and remittances. These five factors are important diversification strategies for households, present over the seven-year research period. Human capital and food plots were statistically significant in explaining income, highlighting the importance of household characteristics and spatial diversification for this region

Analysis of a Climatically Variable Production Season

Analysis of a small agropastoral community in Bolivia during a climatically vulnerable year, provided insight into how households diversify and change productions strategies in order to secure income and food consumption. Twelve independent variables that identified distinct production strategies were analyzed according to how well they estimated total income. A subset selection process determined the best combination of variables, or production strategies. The four variables chosen were food plots, shared land, off farm income and number of native animals. These variables characterize traditional farming practices and have social and human capital embedded within them. It is important to understand how households mitigate and cope with climatic risks, in order to best develop methods that can help households during risky production seasons

Analysis of a Climatically Variable Production Season

Analysis of a small agropastoral community in Bolivia during a climatically vulnerable year, provided insight into how households diversify and change productions strategies in order to secure income and food consumption. Twelve independent variables that identified distinct production strategies were analyzed according to how well they estimated total income. A subset selection process determined the best combination of variables, or production strategies. The four variables chosen were food plots, shared land, off farm income and number of native animals. These variables characterize traditional farming practices and have social and human capital embedded within them. It is important to understand how households mitigate and cope with climatic risks, in order to best develop methods that can help households during risky production seasons.Environmental Economics and Policy,

CAFTA AND MIGRATION: LESSONS FROM MICRO ECONOMY-WIDE MODELS AND THE NEW ECONOMICS OF LABOR MIGRATION

This article uses economy-wide modeling techniques to offer an intra-regional perspective on the impacts of trade reforms on rural economies and migration for five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua) that are negotiating the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States. Potential migration and welfare impacts of agricultural provisions in CAFTA depend on market integration, diversification of economic strategies, and government policies. Conclusions highlight the importance of product mixes, technologies, and labor markets in shaping outcomes of trade policy reforms

CAFTA AND MIGRATION: LESSONS FROM MICRO ECONOMY-WIDE MODELS AND THE NEW ECONOMICS OF LABOR MIGRATION

This article uses economy-wide modeling techniques to offer an intra-regional perspective on the impacts of trade reforms on rural economies and migration for five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua) that are negotiating the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States. Potential migration and welfare impacts of agricultural provisions in CAFTA depend on market integration, diversification of economic strategies, and government policies. Conclusions highlight the importance of product mixes, technologies, and labor markets in shaping outcomes of trade policy reforms.Labor and Human Capital,

Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Characteristics and Importance to Climatic Uncertainty

This paper details the importance of indigenous knowledge systems in developing countries around the world. Farmers, communities and households that live in risky environments, have developed intricate systems of diversification that help secure income and food consumption. An integral part of these systems are the knowledge systems that help households plan for future events and decrease uncertainty. Recently indigenous knowledge systems have been given more attention as their importance is addressed in development projects. Unfortunately acknowledgment and understanding of how knowledge systems are used is still not a basic part of all research. This is especially important in the recent advancement of climate and weather forecasting. Scientific advancements can aid poor countries only if knowledge systems are accessed and understood. Also forecast techniques will not improve welfare if they do not first address what households, farmers and communities need, want and lack

Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Characteristics and Importance to Climatic Uncertainty

This paper details the importance of indigenous knowledge systems in developing countries around the world. Farmers, communities and households that live in risky environments, have developed intricate systems of diversification that help secure income and food consumption. An integral part of these systems are the knowledge systems that help households plan for future events and decrease uncertainty. Recently indigenous knowledge systems have been given more attention as their importance is addressed in development projects. Unfortunately acknowledgment and understanding of how knowledge systems are used is still not a basic part of all research. This is especially important in the recent advancement of climate and weather forecasting. Scientific advancements can aid poor countries only if knowledge systems are accessed and understood. Also forecast techniques will not improve welfare if they do not first address what households, farmers and communities need, want and lack.Environmental Economics and Policy,

PEASANT HOUSEHOLD STRATEGIES IN THE ANDES AND POTENTIAL USERS OF CLIMATE FORECASTS: EL NINO OF 1997-1998

Production strategies pursued by households and individuals in a peasant community of the Bolivian Altiplano are shaped by access to resources, social networks and institutions, wealth, and the ability to develop urban rural linkages. In times of climatic stress such as the low rainfall of 1995, the household economic portfolio shifts to activities less vulnerable to climate. The ability to shift is conditioned by access to resources, social capital, stage in the life cycle and wealth. A typology developed to understand how strategies take shape during a drought is used to evaluate access to information during el Niño (1997-8) and impacts on potato production in 1998-99. The relationship between diversification and use of climate forecasts (local and modern) is evaluated. The study proposes that diversification and use of forecasts may go hand in hand, and should be considered in the profile of potential users

Peasant Households Strategies in the Andes and Potential Users of Climate Forecasts: El Nino of 1997-1998

Production strategies pursued by households and individuals in a peasant community of the Bolivian Altiplano are shaped by access to resources, social networks and institutions, wealth, and the ability to develop urban rural linkages. In times of climatic stress such as the low rainfall of 1995, the household economic portfolio shifts to activities less vulnerable to climate. The ability to shift is conditioned by access to resources, social capital, stage in the life cycle and wealth. Atypology developed to understand how strategies take shape during a drought is used to evaluate access to information during el Nino (1997-98) and impacts on potato production in 1998-99. The relationship between diversification and use of climate forecasts (local and modern) is evaluated. The study proposes that diversification and use of forecasts may go hand in hand, and should be considered in the profile of potential users