1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de la Technologie

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Quand les données ont-elles été compilées (sur le terrain)?

01/08/2001

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

1.4 Déclaration sur la durabilité de la Technologie décrite

Est-ce que la Technologie décrite ici pose problème par rapport à la dégradation des terres, de telle sorte qu'elle ne peut pas être déclarée comme étant une technologie de gestion durable des terres?

Non

2.1 Courte description de la Technologie

Définition de la Technologie:

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

2.2 Description détaillée de la Technologie

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 de la Technologie

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où la Technologie a été appliquée et qui sont couverts par cette évaluation

2.7 Introduction de la Technologie

Spécifiez comment la Technologie a été introduite: :

• par le biais de projets/ d'interventions extérieures

3.1 Principal(aux) objectif(s) de la Technologie

• améliorer la production
• réduire, prévenir, restaurer les terres dégradées

3.2 Type(s) actuel(s) d'utilisation des terres, là où la Technologie est appliquée

Commentaires:

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 Informations complémentaires sur l'utilisation des terres

Approvisionnement en eau des terres sur lesquelles est appliquée la Technologie:

• pluvial

Précisez:

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

3.4 Groupe de GDT auquel appartient la Technologie

• agroforesterie

3.5 Diffusion de la Technologie

Commentaires:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 400 m2.

3.6 Mesures de GDT constituant la Technologie

Commentaires:

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

3.7 Principaux types de dégradation des terres traités par la Technologie

Commentaires:

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 Prévention, réduction de la dégradation ou réhabilitation des terres dégradées

Spécifiez l'objectif de la Technologie au regard de la dégradation des terres:

• prévenir la dégradation des terres

4.1 Dessin technique de la Technologie

4.2 Spécification/ explications techniques du dessin technique

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 Activités de mise en place/ d'établissement

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

4.5 Coûts et intrants nécessaires à la mise en place

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% du coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	labour	ha	1,0	700,0	700,0	100,0
Matériel végétal	Seedlings: poró/cedar	ha	1,0	15,0	15,0
Matériel végétal	Seedlings: orange trees	ha	1,0	220,0	220,0
Matériel végétal	Seedlings: coffee	ha	1,0	1240,0	1240,0
Engrais et biocides	fertilizer	ha	1,0	350,0	350,0
Autre	transport	ha	1,0	10,0	10,0
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie					2535,0

Commentaires:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Activités d'entretien/ récurrentes

	Activité	Type de mesures	Calendrier/ fréquence
1.	Fertilization	Agronomique	May, July, November / 1–3 times
2.	Pest control (spraying)	Agronomique	May, September / 1–2 times
3.	Application of lime.	Agronomique
4.	Pest control (spraying)	Agronomique	May, September / 1–2 times
5.	Application of lime.	Agronomique
6.	Weed control	Végétale	Weed control
7.	Pruning coffee	Végétale	February or March /
8.	Pruning shade trees.	Végétale

4.7 Coûts et intrants nécessaires aux activités d'entretien/ récurrentes (par an)

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% du coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	labour	ha	1,0	28,0	28,0	100,0
Engrais et biocides	fertilizer	ha	1,0	175,0	175,0	100,0
Autre	transport	ha	1,0	127,0	127,0	100,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie					330,0

Commentaires:

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 Climat

5.2 Topographie

5.3 Sols

5.6 Caractéristiques des exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

Indiquez toute autre caractéristique pertinente des exploitants des terres:

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 Superficie moyenne des terres détenues ou louées par les exploitants appliquant la Technologie

5.8 Propriété foncière, droits d’utilisation des terres et de l'eau

Propriété foncière:

• individu, sans titre de propriété
• individu, avec titre de propriété

Droits d’utilisation des terres:

• individuel

6.1 Impacts sur site que la Technologie a montrés

Impacts socio-économiques

Production

Revenus et coûts

Impacts socioculturels

Impacts écologiques

Sols

Réduction des risques de catastrophe et des risques climatiques

6.2 Impacts hors site que la Technologie a montrés

6.4 Analyse coûts-bénéfices

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts de mise en place (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts d'entretien récurrents (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

6.5 Adoption de la Technologie

Commentaires:

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 Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités de la Technologie

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
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 Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques de la Technologie et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.2 Références des publications disponibles

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

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

Titre, auteur, année, 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.

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

Science Faculty, University of Berne, Centre for Developmentand Environment