multipurpose tree species research for small farms: strategies ... - part

The Marketing System
The marketing of P.falcatariawood and
processed products needs to be improved. Current
market conditions are unfavorable for the farmers
and wood processors.
Planting sites are relatively small and widely
scattered, therefore, the role of the collecting agent
or middleman is very significant.
Unfortunately, some of the middlemen are
dishonest and take advantage of the farmers. They
buy the timber before the proper harvesting age of
seven years at a very low price. The farmers are
forced to sell their trees due to poverty.
Consequently, only the middlemen profit from the
harvest. To deal with this problem, planned
cooperatives will provide temporary loans to the
farmers so they can market their wood directly to
consumers either locally or outside the region.
Another weakness exists in the marketing
system of the processed products with the
exception of sawn wood. Most ofdthose involved in
the processed product industry buy their wood
directly from the sawmills. However, it is very
common for middlemen to obtain finished
commodities on consignment, and do not pay for
the merchandise until after it is sold. By this means
they often manipulate the prices and even refuse to
pay for merch. ndise, arguing that the products
have not been sold. This puts many small-scale
entrepreneurs out of business. To resolve this
problem, the authors consider it necessary to form
cooperatives among wood producers capable of
marketing both logs and processed products. This
will help to overcome the financial difficulties of
the members.
Conclusion and Action Plan
Results of the case study on P.fadcatariause in
the rural communities of Sukabumi District
demonstrate that this species is worth promoting.
An appropriate research strategy should focus on
increasing villagers' incomes at all levets, from the
farmers to the entrepreneurs, as well as increasing
the value added. Research priorities should
include efforts to improve:
Surveys are needed to collect data on the
following topics: the role of existing MPTS,
socioeconomic background statistics, wood
utilization technology, fragile land use, volume
of rural wood production, institutional linkages,
marketing systems, and problems faced by rural
villagers.
Project design criteria would be based on this
data. The analysis of the data is needed to
understand how MPTS affect the lives of the
villagers, and to formulate program
development policies to expand the role of
MPTS in rural communities.
A pilot project should be established to transfei
technology pertaining to the management,
utilization, and marketing of MPTS. The pilot
project location should be a rural area
representative of MPTS producing areas in
Sukabumi. Activities should include:
- management and utilization of the villagers'
plantation;
- establishment of a portable sawmill;
- establishment of a farmers' cooperative;
- establishment of a wood processors'
cooperative; and
- promotion of the production and marketing
of processed products ofP.falcataria.
References
Board of the Forest Authority of Indonesia.
1988. Repon of Results to Date. Sukabumi:
Perhum Perhutani KPH.
National Academy of Sciences. 1979.
TROPICAL LEGUMES: Resourcesfor the
Future.Washington, D.C.: National Academy
Press.
Sub Office of Forestry Research RLKT. 1987.
Dataon Sukabuni'scommunityforests.
Region IV, West Java, Indonesia: Sub Balai
RLKT.
- the efficiency of utilizing small farmers' land; Sutigno, P. 1987. Propeniesand Uses of
Albizia falcata. The keynote address at the
- the efficiency and productivity of wood Industrial Forestry Roundtable. Jakarta,
processiag; and Indonesia.
- the marketing system of logs and processed
products.
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