Techno-sociological dimensions of cashew farming as a dryland conservation measure in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
2003
Agus Hasanuddin Rachman | Briones, N.D. (Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). School of Environmental Science and Management)
Cashew farming is assessed as a conservation and income source program of the Eastern Islands Smallholder Cashew Development Project (EISCDP) in the drylands of Lombok, West Nusa, Tenggara, Indonesia. To promote cashew farming EISCDP initially provided the necessary support services to the farmers such as technical training, free inputs (seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides), farm-to-market roads, credit, and marketing arrangements. As a soil conservation measure, cashew trees have been shown to mitigate soil erosion due to their extensive root system and large canopies. Flash-flooding has been minimized in areas planted with cashew. The farmers improved their cropping practices by intercropping legumes and vegetables in between cashew roots. Cashew plantations have enhanced a favorable undergrowth microclimate that proved beneficial for the growth of soil microorganisms. Cashew farming is also culturally acceptable with the farmers showing cohesiveness in their participation in farm organizations as well as in implementing cashew technology as recommended by the government. With the improvement of the traditional cropping patterns, the farmer's income levels have been steadily increasing and equitable income distribution among the cashew smallholders has become more apparent
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