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EXPERIENCE OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN ECONOMICALLY
INCENTIVIZING SOIL FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT
Muslimjon Isakhanov Ma’rifjan ugli
Doctoral student at the International Center for Strategic Development and
Research in Food and Agriculture (ISCAD)
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15704699
The issue of improving soil fertility through economic incentives is
becoming increasingly relevant in the context of climate change, land
degradation, and the need for sustainable agricultural intensification. Under the
conditions of climate change, where water scarcity, salinization, and soil erosion
are becoming more severe, declining soil fertility directly threatens food
security, rural livelihoods, and economic stability. Traditional agronomic
measures alone are insufficient; therefore, integrating economic mechanisms
such as subsidies, tax relief, and performance-based support can motivate
farmers to adopt soil-friendly practices. By aligning economic interests with
ecological goals, such policies not only enhance resource efficiency but also
foster long-term resilience in the agricultural sector.
Soil fertility is a strategic resource that determines productivity in any
agrarian economy. The preservation and restoration of this resource has
become an important component not only of agronomic policy, but also of
economic and social policy. Developed countries have advanced experience in
using economic incentive mechanisms to increase soil fertility. This article
analyzes such experiences using examples from countries such as the USA,
European Union, Canada, and Japan.
US experience in soil conservation through agricultural programs. In the
USA, the initial national policy on soil fertility conservation and restoration
began with the Soil Conservation Act of 1935[1]. Today, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
implements a number of economic programs:
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) - provides grants and
concessional financing for farmers to implement agrotechnical measures to
reduce soil erosion, control salinity, and increase the amount of organic
matter[2].
CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) - provides annual incentive
payments to farmers for long-term measures implemented to improve soil
quality and protect the environment [2].
In the USA, farmers are granted subsidies for land tax, fertilizers,
machinery, or farm infrastructure if they meet the conditions for carrying out
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activities in accordance with agroecological standards. For example, those who
apply conservation tillage technologies receive tax benefits [3].
The European Union's experience in incentivizing soil fertility improvement
through a subsidy system of "green components." In the European Union's
agricultural policy, the protection of soil resources plays a crucial role. The
concept of "green payments" was introduced in the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) reform adopted in 2013 [4].
Greening Payments - farmers are paid subsidies for crops that protect soil
from erosion (cover crops, green manures), crop rotation, and measures to
preserve natural biodiversity [5].
Eco-schemes - if a farmer uses organic technologies, perennial grasses, and
soil-covering crops on their land, the payment amount is doubled [5].
Additionally, in EU countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands,
tax and subsidy rates are determined based on digital maps, laboratory analyses,
and an online platform for quality soil monitoring [6].
Canadian experience in financial measures aimed at preserving ecosystems.
In Canada, issues of promoting soil fertility came to the forefront in the 1980s.
Through the National Soil Conservation Program, launched in 1989, farmers are
provided with government grants for transitioning to suitable agricultural
practices and improving soil organic matter and structure [7].
Currently, the main economic incentives in Canada are:
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) - the farmer prepares an environmental
analysis for their farm and receives financial support based on it [7].
AgriInvest and AgriStability - insurance programs with refundable
payments for environmental risks related to soil fertility [8].
Canada also has special subsidies aimed at soil restoration at the provincial
level (for example, in Ontario and Quebec). These funds finance soil analysis,
land reclamation, and anti-salinization measures [8].
Japan's experience in incentivizing the use of innovative technologies. Japan
pursues an economic policy that utilizes high technologies in the management of
soil-related resources. The government, within the framework of "smart
agriculture" programs:
Provides tax benefits to farmers who have implemented TMR (Total Mixed
Ration) technologies and mobile soil scanners. Grants are allocated to farmers
who use soil restoration technologies based on biofertilizers and
microorganisms [9].
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Japan has created a "Smart Soil Map" platform for monitoring soil fertility,
which determines the amount of humus, acidity, and organic matter for each
plot of land and automatically recommends technical or material assistance to
the farmer [10].
The above-mentioned experiences show that developed countries are
consistently and purposefully implementing economic methods to increase soil
fertility. In these countries, incentives are implemented not only in the form of
direct subsidies but also through tax benefits, environmental insurance, digital
monitoring, and innovative platforms. For Uzbekistan, drawing conclusions from
these experiences, it is important to introduce effective incentive mechanisms in
the national soil policy, link them with technologies, and develop a system for
providing information services to farmers
References:
1.
USDA (2022). History of Soil Conservation in the United States. United
States Department of Agriculture.
2.
USDA NRCS (2023). EQIP and CSP Program Descriptions.
www.nrcs.usda.gov
3.
Smith, R. & Bailey, J. (2020). Conservation tillage incentives and outcomes.
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 75 (2), 123-131.
4.
European Commission (2013). CAP Reform - Greening the Common
Agricultural Policy. https://ec.europa.eu
5.
OECD (2021). Agri-environmental indicators for Europe. OECD Publishing.
6.
German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). (2022). Digital
Soil Mapping Initiatives. Berlin.
7.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2020). Soil and Land Conservation
Policy Review. www.agr.gc.ca
8.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture (2021). Environmental Farm Plan
Guidebook. Toronto.
9.
MAFF Japan (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). (2023).
Smart Agriculture in Japan: Policy and Implementation. Tokyo.
10.
JIRCAS (2022). Precision Agriculture and Soil Monitoring Technologies in
Japan. Tsukuba, Japan.
