Tradeoff Analysis activities began in Peru in 1996 with research into the effects of conservation technologies on erosion and agricultural productivity in semi-subsistence potato-pasture-cereal-legume systems in the Region of Cajamarca. This analysis was carried out jointly with the Peruvian governmental organization charged with natural resource conservation in the Andean region of the country, PRONAMACHCS*, and the International Potato Center (CIP). This research examined technologies promoted by PRONAMACHCS including slow-formation terraces, agroforestry, sprinkler irrigation, and fertilizers. This research also analyzed policies used by PRONAMACHCS such as subsidization and the targeting of technologies with the use of technical assistance to farmers. TOA supported strategic decision making by quantifying how these policy and technology scenarios affect economic outcomes as measured by the net present value of production and environmental outcomes as measured by the tons of soil eroded out of fields over time, and potential for carbon sequestration. This work was completed in 2005, and publications are available on this web site.

The TOA team will be working with CIP’s Natural Resource Management program to train a research team in the use of the TOA modeling tools, using the data and models for the Cajamarca study site. The TOA team will also be collaborating with the CIP NRM team to support the use of TOA tools in analysis of technology options for the altiplano region of Peru.

*Programa Nacional de Manejo de Cuencas Hidrolóagicas y Conservación de Suelos.