D. Hughes et al., ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS OF THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF FARMING PRACTICES IN THE BARLEY CROPPING AREA OF JORDAN, Agricultural systems, 47(1), 1995, pp. 39-58
The sustainability of agricultural practices is an important determina
nt of the ability to meet the growing food needs of future generations
in developing countries. But sustainable agricultural practices will
not be adopted by farmers unless current farm income levels are mainta
ined. The Erosion Productivity Impact Model (EPIC), a whole-farm model
, and budget analysis are used to evaluate both the short-run profitab
ility and the long-run sustainability of a number of agricultural prac
tices in the Mafraq region of Jordan. While only a few technologies ex
ceed current practices in terms of short-run benefits, a number of tec
hnologies provide long-term benefits due to enhanced soil productivity
. A combination of technologies, such as a fertilized barley-vetch rot
ation (instead of the traditional barley-weedy fallow rotation), may p
rovide the most feasible means of maintaining current farm incomes whi
le also enhancing the sustainability of area agriculture.