The economic botany of small-scale cocoa farms in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Bc. Kristýna Vydrová

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

In Sulawesi, the largest cocoa producing area in Indonesia, subsistent smallholder cocoa farmers generally cultivate their cocoa in complex agroforestry systems. These systems, layered with a diverse array of plant species, are believed to provide both environmental and economic benefits. Despite the socio-economic and ecological importance of cocoa agroforests in Sulawesi, very few studies have investigated them. This research aimed to explore the relationship between cocoa farms, livelihoods and biological and cultural diversity in West Sulawesi. In order to do so, the study examined useful plant diversity, ethnobotanical knowledge of particular species, farmers' species prioritisation, and the impact of this biodiversity on the household economy. A total number of 65 useful plant species belonging to 32 botanical families were encountered during field surveying. Species were proven to be multipurpose, 59% of the species reported could be used in two or more ways. The most common and most valued species were Gliricidia sepium, Musa spp., Lansium domesticum, Durio zibethinus and Cocos nucifera. Agrobiodiversity represented by the Shannon-Weiner index ranged from 0.14 to 2.46, while species richness calculated with Margalef's index varied between 0.29 and 2.56. The results did not verify the hypothesis that farmers participating in the GP-SCPP cultivate higher levels of agrobiodiversity on their farms. The gross margin per ha ranged from -108 USD to 4,810 USD. The results showed a positive moderately strong correlation between the farm gross margin per ha and agrobiodiversity. There was also a negative moderately strong correlation found between amounts of used pesticides and agrobiodiversity. Even though agrobiodiversity was found to have positive impact on farm economic performance, further research focussed on relationship between the levels of agrobiodiversity and farm profitability needs to be done.

Keywords

agrobiodiversity, agroforestry, gross margin

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 27. 4. 2018

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Tropické zemědělství / Tropical Crop Management and Ecology