Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The farm and household economic study conducted by Budidarsono et al. (2004)
focused on net returns during 2002/2003. The results represent net cash inflow for
a single year and do not represent land use profitability. Table 4.4 summarizes the
net returns for each dudukuhan type. Results show that, with the exception of fal-
low systems, dudukuhans provide positive net returns, meaning income exceeds
monetary inputs. As this achieved with little proactive planning and management,
there is high potential to enhance productivity and profitability of dudukuhans
through management intensification.
The potential of tree farming systems has been promoted by many authors.
Predo (2002) found that tree farming systems in the Philippines provided annual
incomes of Pesos (PhP) 8,860 to PhP 60,996/ha year −1 , which greatly exceeds
incomes provided by annual crop systems, PhP 5,352 ha −1 year −1 , and imperata land
use system, PhP 69 ha −1 year −1 . Average annual income from fruit and timber trees
in mature damar agroforest systems in Krui, Lampung are Indonesian Rupiah
(IDR) 2,410,000ha −1 (De Foresta et al. 2004). Fernandez (2004) reports that
benzoin trees ( Styrax benzoin ) contribute as much as 70% of total family incomes,
ranges from US$144 to US$216. In Central and East Java, smallholder farmers see
tree farming system as a 'living saving account' that diversify production, reduce
risk, and build assets to enhance family incomes and security (Van Noordwijk,
et al., Chapter 20, this volume).
Most smallholder tree farming systems are characterized by limited proactive
management and planning. Dudukuhan and others tree farming system are managed
on a traditionally extractive basis, few inputs (quality germplasm, fertilizers, labor,
etc.) are allocated to these systems. Spacing is irregular and species components
often primarily the result of chance. Harvesting products is often the most common
management activity, with minimal weeding to control herbaceous and woody
competition. As a result, the quality and quantity of products may be far below the
systems' potential. Farmers often occupy weak market positions and are ill
prepared to assume an active marketing role. Farmers generally: (i) lack access to
market information (product demand, specifications and prices); (ii) lack under-
standing of market channels; (iii) produce products of unreliable quality and quan-
tity; and (iv) rarely engage in grading or processing to improve product quality (and
their profit-margin) (Roshetko et al. 2006).
Farmers are interested in intensifying the management of their dudukuhans, but
hesitate because they do not know where and how to focus their efforts. Resource
scarcity, a lack of knowledge regarding tree propagation and management, limited
access to markets, and governments' policy disincentives/ambiguities are the key
factors that limit farmers' abilities or incentives to intensify their tree farming
systems (Potter and Lee 1998; Carandang et al. 2006). Under conditions of insecure
land tenure and poor market access, smallholder farmers can not and will not cultivate
a wide range of tree species as a component of their integrated and risk-averse
livelihood and land-use systems and will not effectively respond to the increased
demand for wood products (Van Noordwijk et al., Chapter 20, this volume).
Mobilizing the self-strengthen of communities to more intensely management
tree farming systems can be initiated through the development of a replicable and
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