Cropping systems with fruit trees grown in association with cocoa in the Brunca region of Costa Rica.
Jiménez V. G., Navarro L. A., Enríquez G. A.
Author Affiliation: Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, San José, Costa Rica.
Proceedings of the Tenth International Cocoa Research Conference, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 17-23 May 1987. : 745-750
Abstract : Data on cropping systems employed on 124 farms were collected by interviewing the farmers. A more detailed study was made of a sample of these farms to amplify and verify the data collected by interview. Two thirds of the farmers initiated cocoa plantations in association with some quicker yielding crop. The most common intercrops were bananas and plantains (62.8% of the farms), cassava (3.2%), maize (3.2%) and rice (2.4%). The usual planting distances for cocoa were 3 × 3 or 3.5 × 3.5 m. A wide range of shade plants were employed, most usually fruit trees (avocados (54.8%), oranges (43.5%), mangoes (36.3%), rambutans (33.9%), plantains (21.8%) and Bactris gasipaes (12.9%)) or timber trees (Cedrela (18.5%) and Guazuma ulmifolia (3.2%)) along with the traditional shade tree Erythrina. The revenue from the fruit trees was very important to the farming economy, particularly where rambutans, avocados, oranges and bananas were grown. However, most growers had problems marketing their crops. The average dry cocoa yield was 475.5 kg/ha for the sample farms, much higher than the national average (280 kg/ha). The most important pests and diseases were infestation by Atta species and black pod [Phytophthora palmivora], and also cherelle wilt. Many growers were ignorant of basic plantation management practices, such as pruning, sanitary measures, bean preparation and shade management.