1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/08/2001

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

An agroforestry system which combines coffee with shade trees - including fruit, timber and leguminous species - in a systematic fashion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Shade-grown coffee is a traditional and complex agroforestry system where coffee is associated with various other species in different storeys (or ‘levels’). This provides ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural resources. Café arbolado, the example promoted by PRODAF (Programme for Agroforestry Development, see related approach: ‘Agroforestry Extension’) since 1987 is one technical option for shade-grown coffee.
While based on a traditional system the shade-grown coffee technology has a specific layout, and a reduced number of intercropped species. It comprises: (1) Coffee (Coffea arabica) planted on the contour at approximately 5,000 plants per hectare; (2) Associated trees: fruits, most commonly oranges (120 trees/ha), cedar (Cedrela odorata) or caoba (Swietenia macrophylla) for timber (60 trees/ha) and also two legumes, poró (Erythrina poeppigiana) and chalum (Inga sp.) which act as shade trees and at the same time improve the soil by fixing nitrogen (60 trees/ha). Farmers often include bananas in the system. In some cases, orange trees have partly been substituted by avocado (Persea americana), soursop (Anona muricata), and/or jocotes (Spondias purpurea). The latter two command good market prices and do not compete with labour needed for harvesting and other activities; (3) Supportive soil conservation measures on steep slopes to avoid soil erosion, predominantly strips of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) on the contour, retention ditches and soil cover improvement; (4) Fertilizers: both organic and inorganic combined.

Full establishment of a shaded coffee plot can be achieved in two years - after replanting trees which fail to establish. Coffee yields a harvest after two years, but timber from associated trees can be expected after only 25 years. The trees grown in association allow more efficient cycling of nutrients (because of deep rooting and nitrogen fixation) and provide a favourable microclimate for coffee. This production system is well adapted to the local biophysical and socio-economic conditions, characterised by steep erosion-prone mountain slopes, humid climate and small to medium scale agriculture. Based on café arbolado a new, and further developed system of ‘sustainable coffee’ has evolved. This involves certification of the overall process and is attractive to the growing number of environmentally conscious consumers.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Severe deforestation, inappropriate land management practices (monocultures on steep slopes; lack of conservation measures); resulting in physical (soil erosion) and chemical (fertility decline) degradation of agricultural soils, low productivity and low yields.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 270, Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Dec

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 400 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: mixed cropping / intercropping
Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing, education, access to knowledge and support services (Falta de conocimientos), Falta de tecnología
Secondary causes of degradation: poverty / wealth (Falta de capital), Falta de fortaleza de legislación / de autoridad

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Example layout of coffee grown below shade trees: various species are used for shade, and each has intrinsic value of its own - orange trees (for fruit) are associated with strips of lemon grass, tall cedars (for timber) are planted in rows alternating with Erythrina sp. (for fertility improvement). Optionally, banana trees are interplanted.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in organic matter, increase of infiltration, increase in soil fertility
Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of concentrated runoff, control of dispersed runoff

Agronomic measure: organic/chem. Fertilization
Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 60-120
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 12
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 6

Vegetative measure: grass strips
Vegetative material: G : grass
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 12

Vegetative measure: aligned shrubs
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 5000
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1.8
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.8

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass
Trees/ shrubs species: poró (Erythrina poeppigiana), chalum (Inga spp.)
Fruit trees / shrubs species: Coffee, oranges, cedar or caoba for timber, bananas, oranges or avocado, soursop , and/or jocotes
Grass species: lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Structural measure: retention ditches (supp.)

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Clearing of land.	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season (March/April)
2.	Surveying for contour planting of coffee, grass strips, trees etc.	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season (March/April)
3.	Digging holes, fertilizer application.	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season (March/April)
4.	Planting coffee, trees, grass barriers etc along the contour.	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season (March/April)
5.	Replanting coffee that fails to establish in first year.	Vegetative	beginning of rainy season (March/April)

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	labour	ha	1.0	700.0	700.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings: poró/cedar	ha	1.0	15.0	15.0
Plant material	Seedlings: orange trees	ha	1.0	220.0	220.0
Plant material	Seedlings: coffee	ha	1.0	1240.0	1240.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer	ha	1.0	350.0	350.0
Other	transport	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2535.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Fertilization	Agronomic	May, July, November / 1–3 times
2.	Pest control (spraying)	Agronomic	May, September / 1–2 times
3.	Application of lime.	Agronomic
4.	Pest control (spraying)	Agronomic	May, September / 1–2 times
5.	Application of lime.	Agronomic
6.	Weed control	Vegetative	Weed control
7.	Pruning coffee	Vegetative	February or March /
8.	Pruning shade trees.	Vegetative

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	labour	ha	1.0	28.0	28.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer	ha	1.0	175.0	175.0	100.0
Other	transport	ha	1.0	127.0	127.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					330.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: shovel, machete, knapsack
The costs of planting coffee are included. Shade-grown coffee is an integrated production system, and thus costs for coffee and the agroforestry component cannot be disaggregated.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: subdivision of land (through inheritance), improved communications linking the capital with rural areas, and a better system of education all provide for increased off-farm income earning opportunities

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology. There is a slight trend towards growing spontaneous adoption - after the end of the programme. However, the crisis triggered by the big drop in coffee prices has had a negative impact on adoption of the technology. Many coffee farms have been abandoned specially those located under 800-900 m a.s.l. where coffee is of a lower quality due to climatic conditions.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Increased overall crop production and diversity: coffee, fruit, timber, legumes
Different crops harvested at different periods, gives better distribution of labour (and income) throughout the year; participation of all family members; increased food security and minimal economic risk
Improved profitability.
More efficient use of nutrients, nitrogen fixation, lower inputs of fertilizers.
Increased pest resistance, lower external inputs of biocides. Coffe plants continue to produce over 25 years due to optimal microclimate (only 15 years in conventional system without trees). Production system adapted to steep erosion prone slopes, thus a productive alternative to simple afforestation. Not labour-intensive compared with structural measures of SWC. High commercial potential of environmentally friendly produced coffee due to new market trends. Price increase for agricultural inputs has favoured a shift from conventional to shade-grown coffee, the latter being a system with a higher ratio of applied inputs/harvested yields although total production is usually lower than in modern coffee plantations.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Slight decrease in production of coffee per hectare compared to the conventional pure stand	Compensate by additional benefits: wood production, fruit, etc.
Short-term negative cost-benefit ratio in the first 4–5 years: Costintensive technology in the establishment phase.	Identify fast growing species or species providing intermediate products.
Timber harvest only in the long term (after 25 years)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

PRODAF . Sistema agroforestal – Café arbolado, Ecología y economía para el progreso, Puriscal, Costa Rica. 1994.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Neuenschwander E . Agorforstwirtschaftlicher Kaffeeanbau als Lösungsansatz für eine ökologisch nachhaltige Bodennutzung der Hanglagen inCosta Rica: eine Fallstudie im Rahmen des WOCAT Programms, unpublished MSc thesis. 2002.

Available from where? Costs?

Science Faculty, University of Berne, Centre for Developmentand Environment