This article presents the findings of a study to help farmers develop optimal potato yields in the Sembalun Highlands—an isolated area of West Nusa Tenggara province without specialist potato support services. The author's assumption was that utilizing a less costly potato system would increase the ability of small farmers to take up potato production. The research was carried out in six farmers' fields involving six farmer-initiated learning groups, who compared the use of superphosphate with local compost.
Optimising the productivity of the potato/brassica cropping system in Central and West Java and potato/brassica/allium system in South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara. FR2011-24
This report details the outcomes of work undertaken in West Java, Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi to develop potato and cabbage integrated crop management systems, develop and improve farmer access to quality potato seed and build capacity for adaptive research and development. The report details the results from surveys of 80 potato and 50 cabbage crops covering crop agronomy, yield, economics, post-harvest management and potato seed supply, source and quality. It outlines the constraints to potato and cabbage production, with low soil pH being the major constraint.
Application of system dynamics in the international development cooperation: Analysis of decision taking among cocoa farmers in Flores, Indonesia
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.
Subsector analysis and design intervention: the case of Flores cocoa
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.