CHARACTERIZATION OF ROBUSTA COFFEE FARMS IN THE PROVINCE OF COLON, PANAMA

Abstract

The aim of this work was to characterize robusta coffee farms in the Province of Colon, Panama. For this, 40 farms located in the Districts of Colon, Chagres and Donoso were randomly chosen, carrying out a structured survey directed to producers, about social, technological and economic aspects, related to coffee crop. As results, 82,5% of the respondents were males with ages between 28-90 years and in 72,5% of those cases the family participates, with experience in cultivation varying from 3 to 60 years. Primary education predominated with 92,5%, with 65% of the respondents trained in crop and coffee borer management. Only 22,5% develop other activities, with an average family income of USD 401,67/month. About 32,5% of the producers have property title, since most of the farms are in protected areas. The selected farms totaled 105,86 ha cultivated with coffee, being frequent 1 ha plots. Only 40% of the farms have an aqueduct and electricity and 80% have access to water sources. About 97,5% of the surveyed use their own resources, with average costs of USD 1083,70/ha in installation and USD 247,80/ha in annual maintenance; while 40% of the producers received technical assistance and 35% of the farms have improved robusta coffee plants. Transplantation with soil pylon predominated in 67,5% of the farms; but in 32,5% of the cases, the cultivation did not have a defined arrangement. About 67,5% of producers fertilize with synthetic products and/or chicken manure, with an average application of 165 g per plant. Plantain represents the main temporary shade and the second important crop; while timber and fruit species constitute the permanent shade of coffee. About 82,5% of the surveyed farmers reported coffee borer as the main phytosanitary problem, with crafting traps being the preferred control method. The average yield obtained was 362,7 kg/ha, destined for sale to intermediaries in 85% of the cases, at an average price of USD 0,96 per kilogram. In conclusion, coffee crop represents a potential of development in Colon and further studies about sustainability of this activity would be needed.