Bananas Intercropping Effects on Cocoa Yield and Land Productivity

Abstract Bananas are commonly used as intercrops to generate income and provide shade for cocoa plantation. In this study conducted from October 2023 to February 2024 in the Tanggamus District of Lampung Province, Indonesia, researchers analysed the impact of bananas intercropping on cocoa yield and land productivity (combined yield of cocoa and bananas). The study focused on three purposively selected sub-districts: Air Naningan, Pugung, and Pulau Panggung—key cocoa production areas. From each sub-district, a village (Sumberejo, Tangkit Serdang, and Way Ilahan) was chosen, and a farmer group was sampled, resulting in 58 respondent farmers. In-depth interviews were performed for data collecting using questioner. Data were analysed using multiple regression. The results showed that the number of cocoa tree and the age of cocoa tree had positively effect on cocoa yield and land productivity. The number of bananas plant had no significant effect both on cocoa yield and land productivity. However, the number of bananas plant has positively significant effect on land productivity if cocoa price decreased by 50%.