Shortening harvest interval, reaping benefits? A study on harvest practices in oil palm smallholder farming systems in Indonesia

• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103753
• Publication Date: 2023-08-30T17:41:07Z
• Authors: Rosanne E. de Vos; Lisa Nurfalah; Fatima A. Tenorio; Ya Li Lim; Juan P. Monzon; Christopher R. Do...; Hendra Sugianto; Asri A. Dwiyahreni; Nurul L. Winarni; Nadia Mulani; Gilang Ramadhan; Muhammad Ali Imran; Antonius P. Tito; Pandu Sulistiawan; Muhammad Khoirul; Rana Farrasati; Iput Pradiko; Patricio Grassini; Maja Slingerland
• Keywords: Scope (computer science)

Smallholders are responsible for a large share of global palm oil production. Yet, in Indonesia, the main producing country, smallholders' yields remain low. Better management practices, including short harvest interval (HI, number days between two rounds), could help to raise smallholder yields. However, at present, HI is long fields and drivers underlying this phenomenon poorly understood. We explored agronomic, socio-economic, institutional factors that underlie harvesting practices independent farming systems Indonesia assess scope sustainable intensification through shorter reduced losses. Combining methods from agronomy anthropology, we followed 950 farmers six representative locations across via farmer diaries over period years establish correlation with yield. To quantify relationship, conducted post-harvest field measurements, explain which impact did qualitative interviews surveys. The smallholders our study ranged 10 39 (average: 17-d). Half (>16-d). Key impacting include annual fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield, total area per farmer, trusted labor availability, plantation accessibility, FFB price. Farmers responded low yield by prolonging increase productivity optimize transportation costs. This contributes better understanding relation systems, uncovering how socio-economic sometimes override agronomic considerations. Long can potentially lead loss loose fruits missed bunches, reduce quality overripe bunches. obtain benefits requires collective action incentives along supply chain streamline sale process.