The Role of Fruit Trees in Coffee Agroforestry Systems in Costa Rica.

Following the coffee price crisis in the early 1990s until today and its impacts on the economy of coffee-exporting countries, specialty and niche marketing possibilities were explored. Moreover, many producers in Latin America have attempted to diversify their farms and products to decrease economic dependence on one cash crop, as shade trees are now propagated in coffee plantations to increase sustainability of coffee production and quality. Therefore, trees are being widely established, thus creating agroforestiy systems, The canopy layer usually includes timber, service or fruit trees, or a combination of these. In January and February 2005, interviews with 30 organic coffee producers in Turrialba (Costa Rica) were carried out. Objectives of the survey were to characterize species, volume and production of fruit trees present in coffee fields, to assess the farmers' incentive for establishing fruit trees within their coffee-production system, and to determine the perceived impact of those fruit trees on coffee. The farmers who participated in the survey had a highly diverse production of fruits in their coffee agroforestry systems. Higher quantities of fruits are being produced for a few products with secure markets (e.g., banana, citrus, plantain, and guava), regardless of their impact on coffee production. The other fruits were used mainly in household consumption. Diversification of the farm was generally seen as an economic benefit (higher income and better security), although environmental effects were also perceived. Following this reasoning, finding accessible markets for less common products may be crucial for sustaining and promoting higher diverse production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]