Planning multiple enterprise farming systems in coconut associations : Matara district of Sri Lanka
Date
1985
Authors
Thilakasiri, M. A
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Abstract
A large and important proportion of coconut area of Sri Lanka is
owned and operated by smallholder farmers. Low productivity and
resource use are common features of these farms and ways to improve
productivity and farm income rest largely on efficient utilization of
existing resources, basically land and labour, since no expansion of
the farm area is possible. Since large proportions of land are
underutilized under coconut monoculture systems, the expansion of
multiple enterprise farming systems in coconut associations would be a
useful approach to improve the productive capacity of these farms.
This study aims to identify and describe existing farming
practices on the small farms in the Matara district of Southern Sri
Lanka, and to evaluate alternative multiple enterprise farm models to
suit the constraints of the cropping calendars and the resource base.
Data on 270 farms were collected in 1982, and are analysed in this
study. This is followed by whole farm planning using Linear
Programming(Lp). The model considers the farm household as a
production-cum-consumption unit with a common resource base at their
disposal and involving in a variety of enterprises.
Prior to development and evaluation of alternate cropping patterns
using LP, the relevance of the Farming System Approach to the present
study is discussed and the study area is then introduced. The present
structure of the small farms are examined and the farms are classified
based on the resource endowments and the current cropping patterns.
The survey reveals that these small farmers are involved in
multiple enterprise farming systems with coconut as a major but not the
sole concern. Different farm types are identified based on the
component structures, namely: lowland, upland and homegarden. The
three component farm type were the most widespread and appear to have
the highest potential for improvement. Wherever lowland rice is found
as a component of these systems, the activities of the seasonal cropping calendar are dominated by the rice except in the case of
larger holdings where more systematic cultivation is carried out using
hired labour, for market production.
Present utilization of coconut lands is limited to occasional
instances of systematic cultivation of intercrops, such as cinnamon and
banana, while a fair proportion of farmers practice some form of mixed
culture where unorganised, indiscriminately planted crop combinations,
including perennial, semi-perennial and annual crops are grown. These
are typically cultivated on a small area surrounding the homestead
whilst a significant proportion of the area among coconuts is grossly
underutilized. The area planted to intercrops does not appear to vary
as farm size increases. Thus the absolute area under intercrops remains
the same on most farms.
The LP analyses demonstrates that the major obstacle for system
improvement in these farms is closely related to the farm size. While
the smaller farms suffer from the limitations of available capital
budget for farm improvement, the larger farmers find difficulties due
to restrictions in available labour during peak periods. The mid size
farms too appear to suffer from capital limitation, but are better off
than their smaller counterparts.
The optimal crop mix changes with the capital availability in the
models and certain farm areas are not brought into the plan in the
larger farms due to limitation in available family labour. Pepper and
vegetables enter the plan as intercrops under low levels of capital
availability, while banana dominates the crop mix as the capital
restraints are relaxed.
The intertemporal LP approach appear to have useful applications
in selecting appropriate crop mixes to suit the farm endowments.
However, the need to evaluate a wider range of enterprises, including
livestock management options, before farm level recommendations could
be made is highlighted. Furthermore, this study establishes the
importance of considering the whole farm unit in planning and
extension, rather than concentrating on particular crops or
enterprises.
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