Determinants of Cocoa Farming Sustainability in Polewali Mandar Regency

Abstract

Cocoa is one of Indonesia’s main plantation export commodities and an important source of income for smallholder farmers in Sulawesi. However, cocoa farming sustainability at the farmer level faces multiple challenges, including ageing trees and declining productivity, land conversion, climate change risks, and weak farmer regeneration. This study aims to analyze the determinants of cocoa farming sustainability in Binuang District, Polewali Mandar Regency. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 40 cocoa farmers. Data were collected through observation and structured interviews using a questionnaire. Sustainability was measured by five dimensions: ecological, economic, social, technological, and institutional. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with a log‑linear specification. The results show that the overall sustainability index of cocoa farming averages 29.29%, indicating a less sustainable category, with dimension scores of 26.67% (ecological), 31.17% (economic), 42.17% (social), 29.27% (technological), and 17.29% (institutional). Regression results indicate that cocoa productivity, cocoa price, farming experience, and education level significantly affect cocoa farming sustainability, while production costs are not statistically significant. Productivity has a negative effect, implying that higher productivity is associated with lower sustainability, whereas cocoa price has a positive effect, indicating that higher selling prices improve sustainability. Farming experience and farmer education have not yet translated into more sustainable practices. The findings highlight the need for policies that strengthen price incentives, promote environmentally friendly intensification, and improve farmer capacity building to support cocoa farming sustainability in Polewali Mandar.