MARKET MARKET
ffe farml
HOSHL HOUSEHOLD
-Iilt feed I I-- - -IFg C rstl mat I piberae c p, I
, | ritual r tu transportl
CROPS ANeMALS CROPS I-,-- I feed ANIMAL
rig e ..fwadrc steednAi, emnn cpping levzel inronofps and amlsnlerd
hih inegatonofcrp~sbe andanDel(nia- scI-d chn
vegetables d)ealwIewhI mulch post catl
pulses and ulcpn potatoes pores tevuo
chack-peas eased uer ofes buffalo in manure
mung beans m fi anur oduction i chickens
miling awa frm te vllaes. Thi ma stmulte eveopmnt nduckprucrsiit --in oarder ntora oderetehgsntcs
of large cia l t ortios wc o d m iab r as
tf farm: off farm: forest
Figure 2.6. Central American highlands, permanent cropping, highFigure 2.5. Lowland rice system in Asia, permanent cropping, level integration of crops and animals (animals herdhigh integration of crops and animals (animals con- ed or confined)
fined)
use of forage legumes.
irrigation and multicropping may increase the value of
labor to such an extent that interest in livestock will decline 3. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach to maximize farm
(Harwood 1978). increased use of pesticides and herbicides in income.
multicropping my limit fish and duck production in rice paddies. Increased mechanized harvesting w ay rause shifting of rice 4. Supplying market assistance to small-scale swine, chicken,
milling away from the villages. This may stimulate development and duck producers in order to overcome the high unit cost
of large commercial livestock operations which could monopolize of marketing small numbers of animals.
markets.
On the whole, the intensity and efficiency of crop/livestock 5. Offering credit and extension services on a year-round basis.
(nonruminants) production are higher on small farms in the lowlands rice system than in any other system described in this
report {Maner 1978). Even so, there is good potential for CENTRAL AMERICAN HIGHLANDS SYSTEMS
change. For example, fertilizer costs could be reduced by
cropping of legumes on residual moisture in rice paddies. The There are a number of coon features of the traditional
legumes would complement low-quality rice straws for livestock farming systems of the highland regions (>4,500 m elevation) of
feeding (Javier 1978). other approaches which could be used to Central America (Figure 2.6). The highlands have an annual
bring about institutional change include: rainfall of 1,200 to 2,000 mm, most of which falls from April to
November. The rainfall and temperature conditions allow the
1. Securing land tenure to encourage accumulation of animals. choice of alternative food- and cash-crop enterprises. Fluctuations in temperature (two to six months of frost, depending on 2. Introducing long-term technology for animal production, e.g., elevation) often restrict or inhibit maximizing the utilization
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