Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience
Land degradation poses a significant threat to ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly in disaster-prone regions. In these settings, the promotion of certain agricultural practices with economic incentives, such as sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) farming, offers a potential solution for enhancing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003048 |
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| author | Pratap Khattri Rachel Sayers Kunwar K. Singh Ryan Slapikas Chet Bahadur Tamang Dinee Tamang Brad Sagara Ariel BenYishay |
| author_facet | Pratap Khattri Rachel Sayers Kunwar K. Singh Ryan Slapikas Chet Bahadur Tamang Dinee Tamang Brad Sagara Ariel BenYishay |
| author_sort | Pratap Khattri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land degradation poses a significant threat to ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly in disaster-prone regions. In these settings, the promotion of certain agricultural practices with economic incentives, such as sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) farming, offers a potential solution for enhancing economic stability and mitigating environmental degradation. Despite its promise, the effectiveness of sugarcane as an agricultural intervention remains understudied, especially regarding its environmental benefits. Our study evaluates the impact of sugarcane cultivation in western Nepal, a region highly vulnerable to soil erosion and riverbank degradation due to the presence of flood-prone landscapes. We conducted a geospatial impact evaluation (GIE), which integrated remote sensing data and econometric techniques, including optimal full matching (OFM) and difference-in-differences (DID). We assessed the causal impact of a program promoting sugarcane farming on its adoption and environmental outcomes, measured using multi-temporal satellite imagery, crop phenology, and clustering algorithms, along with machine learning and visual interpretation methods. Our results show that sugarcane adoption increased significantly in both treated and spillover communities, highlighting its potential as a sustainable agricultural practice. However, while uptake was evident, the expected environmental outcomes, such as soil erosion control and riverbank stabilization, did not materialize. This study demonstrates the potential of GIE in evaluating low-cost interventions for sustainable development and provides insights into the role of sugarcane cultivation in promoting climate resilience. The findings underscore the need for complementary interventions and extended timeframes to realize long-term environmental benefits, contributing valuable evidence for policymakers and development practitioners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53ead8f60fd1410bab55c1bd2b9b59b9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1569-8432 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation |
| spelling | doaj-art-53ead8f60fd1410bab55c1bd2b9b59b92025-08-20T03:22:11ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation1569-84322025-07-0114110465710.1016/j.jag.2025.104657Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resiliencePratap Khattri0Rachel Sayers1Kunwar K. Singh2Ryan Slapikas3Chet Bahadur Tamang4Dinee Tamang5Brad Sagara6Ariel BenYishay7AidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USAAidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USAAidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA; Center for Geospatial Analysis, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA; Corresponding author at: AidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA.AidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA; Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USAManaging Risk Through Economic Development, Mercy Corps, Lalitpur 44700, NepalManaging Risk Through Economic Development, Mercy Corps, Lalitpur 44700, NepalResearch & Learning, Mercy Corps, Portland, OR 97204, USAAidData, Global Research Institute, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA; Department of Economics, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USALand degradation poses a significant threat to ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly in disaster-prone regions. In these settings, the promotion of certain agricultural practices with economic incentives, such as sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) farming, offers a potential solution for enhancing economic stability and mitigating environmental degradation. Despite its promise, the effectiveness of sugarcane as an agricultural intervention remains understudied, especially regarding its environmental benefits. Our study evaluates the impact of sugarcane cultivation in western Nepal, a region highly vulnerable to soil erosion and riverbank degradation due to the presence of flood-prone landscapes. We conducted a geospatial impact evaluation (GIE), which integrated remote sensing data and econometric techniques, including optimal full matching (OFM) and difference-in-differences (DID). We assessed the causal impact of a program promoting sugarcane farming on its adoption and environmental outcomes, measured using multi-temporal satellite imagery, crop phenology, and clustering algorithms, along with machine learning and visual interpretation methods. Our results show that sugarcane adoption increased significantly in both treated and spillover communities, highlighting its potential as a sustainable agricultural practice. However, while uptake was evident, the expected environmental outcomes, such as soil erosion control and riverbank stabilization, did not materialize. This study demonstrates the potential of GIE in evaluating low-cost interventions for sustainable development and provides insights into the role of sugarcane cultivation in promoting climate resilience. The findings underscore the need for complementary interventions and extended timeframes to realize long-term environmental benefits, contributing valuable evidence for policymakers and development practitioners.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003048Geospatial impact evaluation (GIE)Developmental interventionsImpact evaluationSugarcane farmingRiverbank degradationDifference-in-difference (DID) |
| spellingShingle | Pratap Khattri Rachel Sayers Kunwar K. Singh Ryan Slapikas Chet Bahadur Tamang Dinee Tamang Brad Sagara Ariel BenYishay Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation Geospatial impact evaluation (GIE) Developmental interventions Impact evaluation Sugarcane farming Riverbank degradation Difference-in-difference (DID) |
| title | Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| title_full | Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| title_fullStr | Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| title_short | Geospatial impact evaluation of a low-cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| title_sort | geospatial impact evaluation of a low cost agricultural intervention for enhancing environmental resilience |
| topic | Geospatial impact evaluation (GIE) Developmental interventions Impact evaluation Sugarcane farming Riverbank degradation Difference-in-difference (DID) |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003048 |
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