Abstract This study utilised 158 semi structured interviews, three focus group discussions and two key informant interviews to achieve its aim of investigating environmental discounting by smallholder farmers in Chibombo, Zambia. Results suggest that most smallholder farmers were willing to continue using mineral fertilisers in the short to medium term even when they were told there could be potentially negative effects as a result. This result was attributed to the farmers’ experience with neutralising soil acidity through lime application and crop rotations. The proportions of smallholder farmers who would continue using pesticides increased with the period it takes for pesticide induced soil infertility to manifest. The respondents seemed more concerned about effects on the soil that would manifest in five years. Smallholder farmers preferred soil improving practices with short term benefits, and low risk. The proportions of smallholder farmers willing to plant fertiliser trees reduced from 68.5 % when the benefits accrue in five years to about 38 % when said benefits accrue to the next generation. Study recommends that agricultural development interventions should focus on low risk, locally available technologies with shorter term benefits and minimal future costs. Study recommends that agricultural development interventions include innovation of practices with shorter term benefits, minimal future costs and farmer sensitisation on the benefits of sustainable agriculture.

中文翻译：

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赞比亚中部奇邦博区小农的环境贴现行为

摘要 本研究利用 158 次半结构化访谈、三个焦点小组讨论和两个关键知情人访谈来实现其调查赞比亚奇邦博小农户环境折扣的目的。结果表明，即使被告知可能会产生潜在的负面影响，大多数小农仍愿意在中短期内继续使用矿物肥料。这一结果归功于农民通过施用石灰和轮作来中和土壤酸度的经验。继续使用农药的小农比例随着农药引起的土壤贫瘠表现出来的时间而增加。受访者似乎更关心五年后对土壤的影响。小农更喜欢具有短期效益和低风险的土壤改良做法。愿意种植化肥树的小农比例从五年后收益累积时的 68.5% 下降到该收益累积到下一代时的 38% 左右。研究建议农业发展干预措施应侧重于低风险、本地可用的技术，这些技术具有短期利益和最低的未来成本。研究建议农业发展干预措施包括具有短期利益、最低未来成本和农民对可持续农业利益的敏感性的实践创新。5 % 当收益在五年内累积到大约 38 % 当所述收益累积到下一代时。研究建议农业发展干预措施应侧重于低风险、本地可用的技术，这些技术具有短期利益和最低的未来成本。研究建议农业发展干预措施包括具有短期利益、最低未来成本和农民对可持续农业利益的敏感性的实践创新。5 % 当收益在五年内累积到大约 38 % 当所述收益累积到下一代时。研究建议农业发展干预措施应侧重于低风险、本地可用的技术，这些技术具有短期利益和最低的未来成本。研究建议农业发展干预措施包括具有短期利益、最低未来成本和农民对可持续农业利益的敏感性的实践创新。