ISHS Acta Horticulturae 270: I International Symposium on Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries
INTEGRATION OF COFFEE WITH SUBSISTENCE PRODUCTION; A LINEAR PROGRAMMING APPROACH |
| Author: | G. Abate |
| Abstract:
Coffee growing cooperatives which are characterized by semi-subsistence nature of production have special problems of planning because of strong links between sales and home use of the total output, and the mixture of food crops and a perennial cash crop. Moreover, because of their inadequate capital base since their inception, the contribution of these cooperative farms in raising farm incomes has been on the wane. The application of a linear programming model for the cooperative farms indicates the fact that the existing production pattern is sub-optimal and needs adjustments in order to yield higher incomes and to achieve food self-sufficiency. Optimal cropping plans vary from one type of cooperative to another, and a higher degree of attainment of coffee results in a lower degree of attainment of food crops for consumption. The results also suggest that in the long term the income potential of these cooperatives could further be increased by planning with the use of adequate credit. | |
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