Dairy farmers' willingness to adopt cleaner production practices for water conservation: A discrete choice experiment in Mejia, Ecuador

Worldwide, farming practices directly impact the quality and quantity of both underground and surface water resources. In Mejia, the leading milk-producing region of Ecuador, the adoption rate of conservation practices among farmers is low despite price incentives established by the Agricultural Ministry. Our discrete choice experiment documents stated preferences for water conservation practices of Mejia's dairy farmers by facing respondents to alternatives described in terms of water-efficient technologies, management of manure and solid waste, and training to resolve conflicts over water use. Estimates derived from our preferred random parameter logit specification imply that the average willingness to pay (WTP) for a solid rain irrigation system is US$147 ha1; and US$212 ha-1 for training to resolve conflicts. In addition, we report heterogeneity in WTP estimates. These findings can assist in the resolution of current issues in Mejia, including inefficient water irrigation and weak water governance system. Based on our results and the context of our study area, we suggest, first, the adoption of a cost-sharing scheme (given that the WTP for these practices does not cover their implementation cost), and second, the participation of academic institutions to help these water users resolve conflicts, establish their own rules, and improve water governance.

Automated summary

In Mejia, Ecuador's leading milk-producing region, the adoption rate of water conservation practices among dairy farmers is low. A discrete choice experiment was conducted to identify preferences for water conservation practices, which included water-efficient technologies, manure and waste management, and conflict resolution training. The results showed the average willingness to pay for a solid rain irrigation system to be US$147 per hectare and US$212 per hectare for conflict resolution training. The findings suggest the need for a cost-sharing scheme and involvement of academic institutions to improve water governance.