A number of insect pests are associated with maize in Indonesia. This article examines the species composition and status of maize pests in Donggala district of Central Sulawesi province in order to identify an appropriate control strategy and make location-specific integrated pest management recommendations. The study was carried out in seven villages in 2007, in which 50 samples were collected in each location from maize plots of 0.25-1 ha. Observations were recorded visually using sweep nets.

This article explores the degree to which diversification to non-farm activities, productivity improvements for identical crops (in this case coffee) and crop switching (from coffee to cocoa) are driving income dynamics in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

This report covers cacao production, how cacao farmers acquire, utilise and transfer technical knowledge as well as providing an understanding of the global cacao value chain. Information was obtained through interviews with farmers (n=50) and additional value chain actors. The primary knowledge transfer pathways identified are through family, friends and neighbours.

This paper examines the economic feasibility of best-bet feeding strategies to increase live weight gain of early weaned Bali calves to identify opportunities for increased profit above feed costs on-farm. The research evaluates 53 feeding strategies in 14 on-station experiments in Central Sulawesi, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The best-bet feeding strategy at each site was implemented, monitored and adapted on-farm in villages for six months.

Limited information exists about the growth of young Bali calves under local feeding strategies which are likely to be adopted by farmers. In this article, the authors examine a range of diets designed to increase the growth rate of young Bali cattle and develop practical feeding strategies to complement weaning in order to improve cattle production systems of smallholder farmers in Central Sulawesi. Three experiments were conducted to determine liveweight gain and feed and water intake of weaned Bali cattle offered a range of feed types.