Agricultural sustainability of small-scale farms in Lacluta, Timor Leste

Abstract

The sustainability of Timor Leste's agriculture is being reassessed. However, efforts are often stymied by insufficient information on Timorese agriculture, particularly data generated with local input. This study described the agricultural sustainability of small-scale household farms in Lacluta sub-district of Timor Leste. Subsistence farmers (n = 50) were interviewed to identify/assess current practices and establish farmers' perspectives on sustainability. Agricultural sustainability was conceptualized as having four domains: Agronomic/Production, Economic, Environmental, and Social/Basic Human Needs, measured by individual indicators summated into indices on a scale of 0–1. Lacluta's overall agricultural sustainability was moderate (M = 0.42), while the Social/Basic Human Needs index (M = 0.64), the Agronomic/Production index (M = 0.42), the Economic index (M = 0.40), and the Environmental index (M = 0.20) varied widely. Farmers identified insect pests, rats/mice, and lack of soil fertility as the top production problems, and cited tractors, improved seeds, and general capacity-building as their largest production needs. Subjects practised shifting agriculture at high levels (78%), while only 46% utilized planned soil improvement. Data also showed a low ratio of 0.3–0.5 units of staple crops produced per unit purchased. The findings identified specific areas requiring greater sustainability for agricultural development.