A review of Albizia falcataria in West Java, Indonesia, and a study of its use in selected smallholder systems
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1992
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Melbourne Authors
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Agriculture and Food Systems
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Masters Research thesis
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Abstract
Albizia falcataria (L) Fosberg or Paraserianthes falcataria (L) Nielsen, a fast-growing leguminous tree, was introduced to Java, Indonesia in 1871. Since then the species has been spread throughout the country. It is widely planted both in government-and privately owned forests as well as by smallholder farmers.
The study is in two parts. The first reviews current literature on A. falcataria with special reference to general silviculture and production systems, and its current status as a plantation crop in Java. The second part looks at the deployment of the species by a selected group of smallholder farmers in Bogor District, West Java.
This leguminous species has been planted because of its multiple uses including:
- interplanting with other crops in home gardens; - as a part of agroforestry systems and as shade trees for estate crops; - as a component of forestry production; - reforestation and afforestation programs; - maintainance or increase of soil fertility; - as a timber for use in the building industry; - furniture, handicraft, fuel wood, and pulp and paper industries; - the leaves are useful as a fodder for livestock.
The species have particular advantages as trees on farms:
- easy to grow and maintain even by unexperienced farmers; - grow-well on many types of soils; - can be cut in a relatively short time (3- 5 years) because of its fast growth; - relatively cheap to grow and maintain; and - has a good price and easily marketed.
A survey of 25 respondents in the Bogor district of West Java was conducted in November and December 1991. The respondents were not randomly selected. The main criterion was the choice of smallholder farmers who grow A. falcataria as groups of trees. There are many other farmers who grow the-trees as single or scattered units. The farmers studied had much larger farms than is the average size in Bogor or Java. Average land holding of the respondents was 3.5 ha; in Java the average farm is less than 0.5 ha.
The study showed that income from Albizia falcataria was relatively large in comparison with other sources of income for the respondent farmers. Average annual income from the species for the sample farmers, was approximately Rp.1,310,000 (US $ 650) for the first five years from planting. The trees contributed about 43 per cent of income from agricultural activities or 27 per cent of total income.
For monocultural A. falcataria plantations, the average net income could reach Rp. 2,000,000 to Rp. 3,000,000 or US $ 1,000 to 1,500 per ha per year. The price for Albizia falcataria wood has been increasing each year and is currently around Rp. 50,000 (US $ 25) per cubic meter for medium quality wood. It seems possible that more farmers will grow these trees in the future. This trend is supported by Indonesian government policy, which encourages all rural people to plant A. falcataria on their lands, including home gardens or yards under programs of reforestation and afforestation.
Under government supervision, and with the provision of inputs such as free seedlings, extension services, fund, processing and marketing facilities it is believed that Albizia falcataria will have an increasingly important role, particularly in Java where natural forest is scare and some marginal and. sloping grounds remain underutilised.
In summary, Albizia falcataria can contribute a significant share of total income for those smallholder farmers in the Bogor district who grow this increasingly valuable tree crop.
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Keywords
Economic aspects, Falcataria moluccana, Government policy, Indonesia, Java, Utilization