Analise económica da fazenda unitária de cacau Lolita

Abstract

The present research was carried out at the La Lola experiment station of the Inter-American Institute of Agriucltural Sciences of the OAS, located on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica. The main concern of the study was the economic aspects involved in the unit farm "Lolita". The specific objectives were to determine: replanting rate, income fluctuations, expenditures in replanting, effects of temporary shade, and finally, planning a credit and development program for cacao in Costa Rica. The method adopted for replanting in known as the Trinidad Method. The experiment was divided into 11 blocks with different stages of growth. The amount of labor available was always limited to two men. High producing hybrid seedlings were used for the replanting. Complete farm records were taken on a daily basis. Farm records were kept during the 4,5 years of the experiment. All activities were tabulated as a whole and by blocks. The three basic categories of expenditure were: labor, material and general. The economic standard used was gross margin. An economic analysis was made based on observed vs. expected ("conditional") expenditures. The latter permitted the determination of critical activities. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1) the expected replanting rate in a family unit is about 1,5 ha./year 2) hybrids of known production must always be used 3) the critical activities or activities that must be closely controlled were expenses in cacao seeds and shade harvesting and transportation of cacao staking for cacao and shade and brush control in the area, including the application of herbicides 4) the expenses of plantain shade are too high and therefore not recommended 5) the credit payments should be initiated after a 3 year grace period with an annual interest of 10 percent and 8 years to pay with increased annuities in relation to the debt.