Does Nonfarm Job Growth Encourage or Retard Soil Conservation in Philippine Uplands?

Abstract

If land-degrading agricultural intensification in uplands is driven by labor migration, what will be the effect of nonfarm employment growth? On one hand, a higher opportunity cost of farm labor should reduce labor-intensive cultivation methods. On the other hand, there may also be a reduction in labor-intensive soil conservation practices. This paper investigates this question using data from an upland watershed in Bukidnon, Philippines. Findings suggest that while off-farm employment growth will in general support environmental improvements in the long run, there is a continuing need for agricultural and environmental policies to buttress this trend.