SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND FARM INCOME IN THE DOMINICAN-REPUBLIC

A method is presented for determining least-cost strategies for meetin g soil conservation targets on small steeply sloped farms in the Domin ican Republic. An easily replicated farm decision-making model using l inear programming was employed to assess the relative costs of using a variety of erosion control practices including grass strips, hillside ditches and bench terraces. The effects of agricultural al policy ref orm and secure land tenure on the cost of reducing erosion were also e stimated. Grass strips were found to be the least-costly means of redu cing erosion. Policy reforms, in general, will reduce the cost to the farmer of complying with soil loss restrictions.