Kelembagaan Pemasaran Kakao Biji di Tingkat Petani Kabupaten Parigi Moutong Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah

Abstract

Objectives of this study are: (i) to identify and to analyze characteristics of farmers and their cocoa farms; (ii) to identify and to analyze market structure and conduct of cocoa beans at farm level; and (iii) to analyze the factors affecting farmers in selecting the principal-agent institution. This study uses a descriptive analysis and a logit model using primary data. The average trained farmers' age is older than those untrained. Involvement of trained farmers in the principal-agent institution is less than the untrained farmers. Farmers' characteristics are the important factor in determining their opportunity in selecting principal-agent institution. Cocoa yields are relatively low and tend to be constant. Relatively low cocoa yields make the farmers' income low and they have to select a principal-agent institution requiring a high-cost contract. Farm size is elastic and has a negative sign indicating an increase in farm area will reduce an opportunity in selecting a principal-agent institution. Many farmers as cocoa bean producers are risk avert and the cocoa traders are double-rent seekers and, thus, the market structure is oligopsony. The factors significantly affecting farmers in selecting a principal-agent institution are farmers' land area size, credit value from the bank, farmers' experiences, total of farmers' households members, farmers perception on price information and cocoa beans quality, banks' credit procedures, land tax, production factors' values (except urea value), cocoa farm-business income, and other farm incomes. Some programs to revitalize cocoa beans marketing at farm level are: farmers' land legalization; farmers' cooperation improvement within groups and federations; motivating cocoa farmers to develop other farm business, banks' credit procedure socialization, and improving farmers' access to market information.