The Agriculture-Environment nexus: Understanding the Issues and Review of Economic Valuation Studies

Issue Date

2000

Abstract

This paper discusses how agricultural activities can bring about environmental degradation in surrounding areas. Water pollution from agriculture comes from sediments carried by erosion, containing both organic and inorganic fertilizers, and pollutants from improperly disposed chemical containers and livestock waste discharge into water bodies. Air pollutants come largely from the spraying of chemicals and livestock wastes. These pollutants and the exerssive rate of soil erosion result in economic losses, both in terms of health and production impacts. Production losses are experienced in both the farm and water ecosystems, while health hazards could be imposed on farmers, consumers and water users. The paper dicusses methodologies available to put monetary value on thse economic losses. The aim of valuation is to generate inputs in the design of system to make "polluters pay" for the costs that their economic activities impose on society. Pollution charges, soil conservation subsides, and chemical input taxes are forms of economic instruments that could be used to meet the polluters pay-principle in environment. Literature on valuation of the environment impacts of agriculture in the Philippine setting was likewise discused.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of Environmental Science and Management

Volume

4

Issue

1-2

Page

1-3

Document Type

Article

Frequency

annually

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS