This report presents a sector profile and value chain analysis of the coffee industry in East Nusa Tenggara, identifying the potential for improved smallholder coffee returns. The research shows that coffee in this region has considerable potential, not least because of its natural low acidity and high body flavour derived from its soil and climate.

This report describes a collaboration between the NGO VECO, the leading global cocoa supplier Armajaro, and West Sulawesi farmers to develop direct market linkages and build on previous development work. The report briefly outlines the cocoa industry and the local cocoa chain and identifies key partners, their roles and activities. Testimonials from stakeholders provide comment on the process, benefits and challenges of the program.

To secure quality and quantity of agricultural products in the face of rising global demand, private companies are increasingly developing and nurturing long-term relationships with producers and their organizations. This case study describes how cocoa traders and manufacturers on the island of Flores are investing in producer organizations to ensure quality, sustainability and future supply, and ultimately their own survival. It provides a useful overview of the cocoa supply chain on Flores and then details how the efforts of P.T.

This report details the development of a Flores cocoa farmer decision taking model using systems thinking, in particular systems dynamics and the creation of a management flight simulator. The model is based on understanding the key elements in cocoa farmer decision taking and who farmers listen to. Each chapter of the report represents a step in system dynamics methodology as the model is developed and tested. The systems decision taking model is used to simulate the potential impacts of proposed interventions for the Flores cocoa value chain.

Flores cocoa production is characterised by low productivity and poor quality. This report describes the use of a value chain approach to design interventions for the Flores cocoa industry as part of a training program for Swisscontact LED-NTT staff. The report details the cocoa value chain in Indonesia and globally as well as Flores cocoa production and the local value chain. The methodology involved interviews with value chain participants from producers to national processors and exporters to identify constraints and opportunities, and field visits to assess possible interventions.

This report explores the potential for cassava production in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province in response to a proposed project to grow and export cassava chip for further processing into bio-ethanol in China. Initial field research found the region to be well suited to growing cassava with large areas of arable land and cassava yields comparable to other regions of Indonesia.

This case study details a range of interventions implemented to improve cashew nut production in Flores and contribute to the enhancing the overall cashew nut value chain. The report summarises the key constraints to the value chain, such as no direct linkages and international value adding, poor productivity due to traditional farming methods, and lack of inputs and technology. It then outlines a number of considerations and processes in implementing four interventions to address these constraints.

Cashew is a major source of income for most farmers on the island of Flores. This article details the experience of developing organic cashew nut production in four villages in Flores based on a joint project between VECO Indonesia and Swisscontact. The project aimed to help farmers optimize the potential for cashew nuts through organic certification while maintaining a low input system of production.

This report presents the details of a case study exploring livelihood patterns of farmer households and linkages with the production and marketing of cashew nuts on the island of Flores. It aimed to understand and identify livelihood constraints in order to fully understand and monitor the impact of a Swisscontact/VECO-Indonesia pilot project on certification and processing of organic cashew nuts in Flores. The study used the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (developed by DFID) to analyse complex livelihood patterns in four villages in Central and Eastern Flores.