Study of Empowerment Smallholders Cocoa Based on Agro-Industry Approach

Abstract

Empowering smallholders’ cocoa based on agro-industry requires readiness of the cocoa commodity itself from on-farm to off-farm. The research technique conducted in this study is a descriptive survey approach. The research site is Luwu Raya in South Sulawesi Province. This study uses literature and interviews as a data collection technique. Interviews were conducted with related parties such as government agencies, cooperatives, manufacturers, cocoa farmers associations, and farmer groups which were selected purposively. Collecting secondary data is done by collecting documents in the relevant agencies. Data and information obtained were analyzed descriptively correlatively. The results showed that empowerment of community cocoa into an independent community through agro-industry became a necessity, considering the potential of the community’s cocoa in producing cocoa beans was quite large and only a small portion was processed into finished products. To that end, in order to reach an independent community on cocoa commodities, various things are needed such as transferring technology based on local potential, facilitating the government in providing bailouts and processing machines, and supporting regulations that favor farmers.