Fernando Saenz

The provision of agricultural services to producers remains an important issue for agricultural development and poverty and inequality reduction. Based on a comparative analysis of 7 original case studies in Costa Rica, this paper explores the current diversity in the modalities of service provision to producers. It shows that this provision relies mainly on hybrid coordination in which producers’ organizations play a central role in the definition of the demand and supply of services as well as in coordination between service providers and end users. It highlights the importance of the partnerships between service providers in mobilizing the necessary financial and human resources in order to develop a services system adapted to the needs of small producers.

This paper contributes to the debate on the role of rural producers' organizations in the context of liberalization processes. It aims to explain the observed diversity in the implementation of liberalized economic policies that occurred in four farm sectors (coffee, milk, beans and pineapple). We use Partial Least Square (PLS) modelling in a comprehensive way to explain organizations' strategic behaviours and results in term of policy design influence. We relate organizations' results to (1) their human, technical and financial resources; (2) their mental models and (3) their trajectories. Our results indicate that organizations can efficiently contribute to integrate farmers into dynamic markets through their participation in policy-making processes, but nevertheless that their success is function of a path-dependent logic and depends notably on cognitive considerations. Finally, we draw some implications of these results on the way to enhance organizations' capabilities to influence policy-making processes. We discuss the possible application of this methodology to better understand the role of actors in the evolution of environmental service-provision incentives mechanisms. (Resume d'auteur)

The participation of stakeholders in the design of common rules is a condition for their acceptance. The main questions addressed in this communication are as follows. What are the main issues regarding the successful inclusion of stakeholders in negotiations for policies design? What sort of models could be used and how can they be used to facilitate the negotiation processes? This presentation proposes a review of the main issues related to policy design and strengthening of farmer organizations (FOs). Then it proposes a preliminary comparative review of some models and tools used in socioeconomics studies at different scales and their application to facilitate multistakeholder's decisions and negotiation processes. Finally it draws some recommendations and remarks on the use of models to help stakeholders in decision making. We show that (1) the process of model construction is as important as the output of the model from the perspective of FOs empowerment (learning process, reduction of asymmetries, identification of preferences, ect.); (2) the modelling tools are not neutral in a negotiation perspective but a strategic negotiation resource for actors from the perspective of the policy design process-their legitimacy is a key factor. We conclude that models can be helpful to facilitate multistake-holders' negotiations and capacity-building processes for both researchers and actors (policy makers, organizations) in a cross-learning process. (Resume d'auteur)

... Jean-François Le Coqa, Denis Pescheb, Fernando Sáenz-Segurac, Thomas Legrandd, Geraldine Frogerd , ... Dominant vision Forest= empty space (wood provider) Forest = wood provider Forest = provider of wood and services Forest = ecosystem provider of services ...

The small-scale pepper producers in the El Roble settlement Costa Rica face a monopsonistic market. Only one processing firm is buying the fresh pepper bunches. The processor has all bargaining power to decide on the price paid to the farmers and the quality selection criteria. The rejection rates are high, which is why farmers decided to market their pepper collectively. They started organizing the selection and transport of pepper and entered into group contracts with the firm. We use a non-linear integer simulation model to predict the price level and contractual form (individual or group contracts) which maximises the income of the firm and farmers under three conditions, namely, monopsony (firm holds all bargaining power), monopoly (producers hold all bargaining power in a group contract), and joint profit maximisation (firm and producers have equal bargaining power in the group contract). Our results show that in all scenarios a group contract is chosen for the high supply sea...

Global agri-food systems have undergone a rapid transformation towards closer vertical coordination and more stringent food quality and safety regulation. Contractual arrangements can provide farmers in developing countries with a safeguard and thus potentially support investments into farm-level upgrading and standard adoption. We use survey data from 171 pineapple growers in Costa Rica to analyze the determinants of contract choice and the dynamics of standard adoption. Furthermore, we evaluate the effects of different market arrangements on pineapple revenues, transaction risks and relational capital. Our analysis reveals that while contracts represent an important catalyst for farm-level upgrading, major transaction risks in the supply chain remain unsolved. In particular, farmers in formal contract schemes face high rejection rates and long payment delays, which is reflected in low levels of trust in the marketing relationship.

A forest transition is observed in many countries around the world (Barbier et al., 2010) and in particular in Central America (Reno et al., 2012). Many explanations have been given to the deforestation phase and to the reforestation that follows (Meyfroidt el al., 2010). Our research question is to investigate types of agricultural dynamics associated with forest recovery. Our theoretical framework is based on a typology of drivers of land use changes (GeistL RapidEye in 2012), mapping of census data, and interviews with key actors. We identified three types of agricultural dynamics associated with reforestation: 1) expansion of the sugar cane agroindustry in irrigated zone at the expense of food production (rice) driven by the dynamic of private agroindustry and privileged access to public investment in irrigation infrastructure and a transition from pasture to forest; 2) the integration of a diversified agriculture within an integrated rural development in hinterland zone, with c...

Environmental perception plays an increasing role in natural resources and environmental management. The ecological condition of rivers particularly affects the life quality of riverside populations. A widely used river management device is the implementation of water quality monitoring programs. But, how can citizen perception strengthen scientific knowledge during the monitoring efforts? To answer this question, we have monitored water quality in an urban river in Costa Rica according to the national regulation, and in parallel surveyed the citizen’s environmental perception of that river. The monitoring program was based on physicochemical, bacteriological and macroinvertebrate indicators to assess river water quality dynamically in space and time. The analysis of citizen perception revealed a decline in the river ecological condition. Thus, for most of the population, the river is a soiled and dangerous transit area rather than a leisure place. We finally found that perceived de...

As a pioneer case of Payment for environmental services (PES), the PES program of Costa Rica has been largely analysed regarding efficiency and equity. However, distinctions between regions and types of land users have not been thoroughly analysed. Based on the results of a survey of 190 beneficiaries of PES program in two regions of the countries (respectively the Huertar norte region in the North and the Osa peninsula in the South), we capture the motivations of land users to join the PES program. Quantitative and qualitative analysis reveal that beyond the limits due to constraint of legal access to PES programs, the motivation to join PES differs according to characteristics, strategy and perceptions of land users. We draw a typology of PES beneficiaries that differs regarding their motivations and use of PES. We shows motivations and use of PES also differ according to regional factors (historical and cultural factors as well as development options) and to types of PES (conserv...

Costa Rica was a pioneer in implementing the concept of ecosystem services through a dedicated policy instrument: the Payment for Environmental Services programme (PESP) formalised in February 1996 in the 4th forestry law. However, the policy process that led to the design of the PESP and its consequences for its subsequent governance have never been fully analysed. Our paper aims at answering three questions: why PESP was adopted, what are the factors which enabled the speedy adoption of PESP, and how does the policy process affect the governance of the programme. Between 2008 and 2012, we interviewed 42 key representatives and stakeholders involved in the policy process. We also reviewed laws, decrees, and academic and grey literature. We combined the sequential policy cycle model to identify the sequences of the genesis of the PESP from the problem setting to the decision sequence, and a cognitive approach to the policy process to identify the internal and external factors that led to its genesis. We show that the PESP was rapidly adopted because of the particular domestic context, plus several internal and exogenous factors. First, deforestation was widely acknowledged and forestry incentive instruments already existed as did consolidated forestry organisations and institutions. Second, compromises were reached between leading actors in a context in which the forestry sector interest group was the most powerful. Third, public subsidies were banned in the framework of an international agreement on trade while the international carbon market offered new opportunities. The key elements of the governance of the Costa Rican PESP, such as its scope, nature and decision structure, reflect the existing balance of power between interest groups from different sectors (forestry, conservation, agriculture) involved in the management of forested areas. We conclude that analysing the policy process is important to understand PES governance and to promote sound PES development.

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is considered a non-traditional cash crop for enhancing local development in Costa Rica and a suitable activity for small farmers. Trade of pepper has been done by using contractual agreements between producers and processors, which provides at least three functions: insurance, incentives and information. Contracts also require a high level of commitment from contracting parties to keep the equity, efficiency, and sustainability of the trade relationship. The shift of trade conditions from a competitive to a monopsony market encouraged a group of farmers to start an association that aims to bulk and process pepper from members. Breaching contracts by members of the association endanger this effort of sustainable entrepreneurship. This usually happens when temporary market conditions yield higher procurement prices by other competitors. This situation is also worsened by the lack of proper information on production and processing costs between the contracting...

... Authors Roebeling, PC; Jansen, HGP; Schipper, RA; Enz, FS; Castro, E.; Ruben, R.; Hengsdijk, H.; Bouman, BAM Editors Bouman, BAM;Jansen, HGP;Schipper, RA;Hengsdijk, H.;Nieuwenhuyse, A. Book Tools for land ... To learn more about our products please visit our website. ...

ABSTRACT Governance of Payment for Environmental Services schemes is an issue for policy makers and stakeholders in coutnries. Based on an analysis of stakeholders, we show that the genesis and evolution of Payment for Environmental Services Program in Costa Rica reflects an evolution of balance of power between different stakeholders’ groups. The PESP appears initially as a genuine original construction led by well-organized forestry stakeholders groups, including both small and large forestry enterprises. Its evolution has been influenced by a change in the balance of power between stakeholders, characterized by a reduction of power of the forestry stakeholders defending the productive vision, and a strengthening of the influence of stakeholders oriented towards more environmental and social purpose. As the balance of power between stakeholders appears to be an important explicative factor of the evolution of PESP, the search for funding sources to sustain and enlarge the PESP has been one of the driving forces of the latest PESP evolution. The other driving force has been the learning process: (1) the learning process of the management institution (FONAFIFO) that developed the capacity to adapt the instrument to new constraints and opportunities arising from national situations and international opportunities and (2) the learning process of the stakeholders involved in forest issues and rural development and have developed the capacity to manage the PES concept to support their vision and interests.

Resumen1: El estudio prueba una metodología, para identificar áreas críticas de degradación producto de un mal uso del recurso bosque a nivel de una cuenca hidrográfica. Esta metodología utiliza el SIG como herramienta clave, para procesar y ...

References Climate mitigation and adaptation can be tackled at the landscape scale, combining agricultural and non-agricultural components, reduced deforestation, development of agro-forestry and integrated crop-livestock systems. The spatial distribution of land use could be critical to achieve both climate change issue and income generation and distribution. Should land be spared or shared to reach climate smart goals? To answer this research question, we analyze the impact of the Costa Rican program of recognition for environmental benefits (REB) on the layout of land use in farms located in the Chorotega Region (Northwestern Costa Rica) characterized by confronting environmental issues, such as recent forest recovery process, but land degradation and water scarcity. The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented the REB program from 2007. Extensive livestock is the main sub sector and area for REB use. We will discuss a development model of land sparing that would imply intensifica...

Resumen En el mundo rural de Costa Rica existe una gran variedad de esfuerzos colectivos de pequeños y medianos productores, por formar y mantener organizaciones, en la forma de cooperativas, asociaciones y corporaciones. Estas organizaciones formales cumplen un papel muy importante en la gestión de recursos y en la prestación de servicios a sus miembros, lo que facilita la organización la producción y el acceso a mercados diversos y dinámicos, dentro y fuera de Costa Rica. De esta forma las organizaciones de productores son claves para mantener una estructura productiva estable, base de todo tejido social rural. Partiendo de diferentes enfoques analíticos desde la economía agrícola, la sociología, la planificación social, y la antropología, la presente obra hace una revisión de nueve casos de estudio de organizaciones que han desarrollado diferentes estrategias para la captura y gestión de recursos, la generación de servicios, e inserción en mercados, así como una sistematización d...

In the Pacuare River Watershed in Costa Rica, farm size, ownership, and production data were collected and spatially referenced through global positioning surveys and farmer assessments of property boundaries in relation to cadastral maps and air photographs. Using geographic information system (GIS) based spatial overlays, these data were integrated with previously collected land use and land degradation data. The resulting

This paper presents a characterization of the family farming in the district of Guatuso, Costa Rica. From the analysis of the productive combinations carried out by the producers, we identified three farms categories: the animal husbandry oriented farms, the diversified farms, and the agriculture oriented farms. Using livelihood system analytical framework, we characterize for the different farm categories their respective endowment and access to 5 assets; physical, natural, financial, human and social ones. We show that the different farms categories have different access to capitals. We finally discuss the methodological limits of the livelihood framework to capture and explain the productive and organizational strategies of family farms.