An analysis of the economic values of novel cropping systems in N. E. Thailand and S. Sumatra

Abstract

The use of food-crop intercropping, hedgerow intercropping and secondary or cover cropping to increase incomes of resource-poor farmers in South East Asia was investigated. Since all systems improve conservation of nutrients and most give extra marketable produce, they were expected to increase farm profitability. On upland farms in Lampung, South Sumatra, both inter-and secondary crops were found to improve yields compared with cassava monocropping and thus the income derived from growing cassava or rice with maize. These increases were equivalent to between 70 and 440 US dollars per hectare. An economic analysis of the lowland rice-producing systems in North East Thailand suggested that with the exception of growing cowpea, the use of pre-rice cover crops was not profitable despite a substantial increase in rice yield, because the additional labour cost more than the additional income was worth. A benefit of leguminous crops, however, can be the extra marketable product. Groundnut in Indonesia and cowpea in Thailand gave an attractive extra US$ 400-1150 total income increase per hectare per year (i.e. extra yield of the main food crop plus extra marketable produce from the secondary crop) even after the additional costs were deducted. Hedgerow intercropping gave smaller profit margins of about US$ 90. Although both hedgerow intercropping and secondary cropping represent a considerable investment of labour by farmers, this investment may be more feasible than paying for fertilizer on credit. On balance the most attractive option tested was the use of a leguminous secondary crop, e.g. groundnut or multipurpose cowpea, within the food crop cycle.

Dry season groundnut stover management practices determine nitrogen cycling efficiency and subsequent maize yields

“…It is now well recognized that green manure legumes can greatly increase nitrogen supply to the soil, improve soil chemical, physical and biological properties but they are often poorly adopted by farmers (Whitmore et al, 2000). Greater emphasis is thus placed on the use and management of grain legumes which directly improve farmers' income while also benefiting soil fertility.…”

Carbon forestry: who will benefit?: proceedings of Workshop on Carbon Sequestration and Sustainable Livelihoods, held in Bogor on 16-17 February 2005

“…Assuming 300 work days per year for 50% of the total population and 80% of the land area available for productive land use level. Whitmore et al (2000) concluded that improved soil management practices in intensive intercropping practices following forest conversion with groundnut or cowpea can substantially increase income above the current farm practice, but in the surrounding landscape most of the soils may have been degraded too far for this option to still be available. Gradual conversion of the cassava fi elds (alternating with Imperata cylindrica dominated fallows) to tree-based production systems may provide better options.…”

Effect of cowpea residue incorporation and nitrogen application rates on the productivity of upland rice

“…The use of poultry manure as it affects NERICA 1 improves its grain yield (2.78 tha -1 , grains per panicle (191), panicle weight (32g), panicle length (27cm), culm weight (172g) and number of tillers (18) per hill (Oyekanmi et al, 2009). The adoption of legumes into rice-based cropping systems offers opportunities to increase and sustain productivity and income of smallholder farmers (Whitmore et al, 2000 andWijnhoud et al, 2003). Incorporation of organic materials in the form of crop residues enhances the organic carbon level of the soil (Sarkar et.…”