Social and economic factors in heart- of-palm production in Costa Rica. Implications for integrated nutrient management

Abstract

The design of the SM-CRSP (Soil Management-Collaborative Research Support Program) project provides for evaluation of social and economic conditions during years 1, 3 and 5, a workshop for farmers and technical personnel, and a trial to test the computer package developed through on-farm trials. Major socio-economic findings of the project included: a) a description of the current economic crisis of the crop due to international price decline; b) the need to develop appropriate technology to increase competitive capacity; c) the need to increase technical support of research efforts, to improve in-use technology; d) the project more important research findings are being well-adopted by farmers before the ending the project.