The Role of Boron in Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Cacao Systems in Sulawesi, Indonesia

We implement a project that adds value and strengthens activities of IPNI, Cocoa Care and fertilizer industry partners in sustainable intensification of cacao production systems. Specifically, we execute a three (3) year project to support cacao on farm research and market development on Boron (B) commencing in August 2016, in Soppeng, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The project will help quantifying the effectiveness of balanced fertilizer applications that include B to increase cocoa farm productivity, improve cacao bean quality and increase cacao farm income in a typical Indonesian small-holder cacao farming system, and develop a model for rapid up-scaling of the findings to other cacao growers. The results will strengthen an existing IPNI Cocoa Care project with smallholder cacao farmers in South Sulawesi.

IPNI-2016-IDN-29

Overview

Executive Summary Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country with an estimated population of 240 million (July 2009). It has a total land area of 1,811,569 km2 and 54,716 km of coastline. Arable land represents only 11% of the total land area with 7% supporting permanent crops. It is the largest economy in South East Asia and GDP PPP per head is around $5100. Read more

Year of initiation:2016

Year of completion:2019

Interpretive Summary

2017	The overall purpose of this project is to strengthen and add additional value related to the micronutrient boron (B) in the current efforts on sustainable intensification of cacao production systems. This was aimed at increasing the yield and profitability of smallholder cacao farms in Indonesia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
2016	The overall purpose of this project (from 2016 to 2019) is to strengthen current efforts on sustainable intensification of cacao production systems using boron (B), and thereby increase the yield and profitability of smallholder cacao production systems in Indonesia and elsewhere. The current research enables farmers and the fertilizer industry to benefit from strong markets for cocoa.