Cost-benefit analysis of an agroforestry innovation on karst land: replacing sweet potato by sealwort (Polygonatum cyrtonema) under plum trees in Chunfeng village, Sichuan province, China

ABSTRACT For an ecological environment that is a “congenitally deficient” such as a rocky desertification area, it is particularly important to carry out adaptive response management. This paper addresses a case study on sealwort (Polygonatum cyrtonema) intercropping under plum trees (SIP) in China’s Chunfeng village. The system was developed in the framework of a land rehabilitation project, through a participatory process involving the villagers. We compare the performance of SIP to the previous management mode (sweet potato intercropping under plum trees: SPIP). Our results show that, although the establishment and operation costs of SIP are relatively important, the net present value of SIP is much higher than that of SPIP. SIP can also increase employment opportunities by, improve the welfare of vulnerable groups and is of some environmental value, especially protecting indigenous plant (sealwort) from overharvesting. However, the establishment and maintenance cost of SIP is huge, and long-term simulation results demonstrate a rather long pay-back period. We conclude in suggesting that similar adaptive management not only consider identifying alternative land-use through a participatory process, but also consider participants’ ability to pay, and market demand of the product.