Sustainability Evaluations and Development Challenges of Cacao Farms : A Minor Field Study in Huila, Colombia

Abstract: An intensification of 200 000 tonnes of cacao is planned for the Colombian cacao production until 2021. This could lead large negative effects on the Colombian nature and biodiversity if the current smallholdings of agroforestry were abandoned in favour for large monocultures. The main objective for this study was to get general overview regarding sustainability and development challenges of the current cacao farming in Huila, Colombia. This was conducted through a minor field study in the area over eight weeks were five farms were documented together with semi-structured interviews and participatory evaluations with the farmers based on the three dimensions; environmental, economical and human. The participatory evaluations were presented by an AMOEBA methodology and even if the subjectivity of the result is a concern for the reliability, the farmers evaluations have highlighted areas of concern as well as for possibilities. Currently, practical improvements such as equipment and low income seemed to be of the greatest concerns but deeper rooted problems, such as the corruption and mistrust to the institutions could probably make a greater impact on the future development of the studied farms. On the positive side, working together in cooperatives has implicated to risen the social sustainability due to more contact and support between farmers.