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Promoting biodiversity enrichment in smallholder oil palm monocultures – Experimental evidence from Indonesia

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  • Romero, Miriam
  • Wollni, Meike
  • Rudolf, Katrin
  • Asnawi, Rosyani
  • Irawan, Bambang

Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of two policy instruments on the adoption of native tree planting in oil palm plantations. The first instrument is an information campaign on tree planting in oil palm. The second instrument combines the information campaign with a structural intervention that provides native tree seedlings for free. We implemented a randomized controlled trial in oil-palm growing villages in Jambi, Indonesia. Our study addresses the underlying mechanisms of behavioral change, by investigating how the policy instruments shape farmers’ perceptions, intentions and actual adoption decisions. The results show that information campaigns and structural interventions can motivate tree planting among smallholder oil palm farmers in Indonesia. While both treatments have a positive and significant effect, the intervention combining information with seedling provision leads to significantly higher adoption rates, indicating that overcoming structural barriers is critical. While changes in perceptions and intentions fully mediate the effect of the information campaign on adoption, they can only partially explain the effect of the combined intervention. Facilitating easy access to high-quality inputs is critical to motivate wider adoption among large numbers of potential users.

Suggested Citation

  • Romero, Miriam & Wollni, Meike & Rudolf, Katrin & Asnawi, Rosyani & Irawan, Bambang, 2019. "Promoting biodiversity enrichment in smallholder oil palm monocultures – Experimental evidence from Indonesia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:124:y:2019:i:c:14
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104638
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    3. Sibhatu, Kibrom T. & Steinhübel, Linda & Siregar, Hermanto & Qaim, Matin & Wollni, Meike, 2022. "Spatial heterogeneity in smallholder oil palm production," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Brenneis, Karina & Irawan, Bambang & Wollni, Meike, 2023. "Promoting agricultural technologies with positive environmental effects: Evidence on tree planting in Indonesia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PB).
    5. Noeldeke, Beatrice, 2022. "Promoting Agroforestry in Rwanda: the Effects of Policy Interventions Derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-693, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    6. Grimm, Michael & Luck, Nathalie, 2020. "Can Training Enhance Adoption, Knowledge and Perception of Organic Farming Practices? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Indonesia," IZA Discussion Papers 13400, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Hendrawan, Dienda & Musshoff, Oliver, 2024. "Smallholders' preferred attributes in a subsidy program for replanting overaged oil palm plantations in Indonesia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    8. Kubitza, Christoph & Vijesh, Krishna V. & Klasen, Stephan & Kopp, Thomas & Nuryartono, Nunung & Qaim, Matin, 2021. "Labor Displacement in Agriculture: The Case of Oil Palm in Indonesia," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314982, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Petri, Heinrich & Hendrawan, Dienda & Bähr, Tobias & Asnawi, Rosyani & Mußhoff, Oliver & Wollni, Meike & Faust, Heiko, 2022. "The challenges Indonesian oil palm smallholders face when replanting becomes necessary, and how they can be supported: A review," EFForTS Discussion Paper Series 36, University of Goettingen, Collaborative Research Centre 990 "EFForTS, Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)".
    10. Sibhatu, Kibrom T. & Steinhübel, Linda & Siregar, Hermanto & Qaim, Matin & Wollni, Meike, 2021. "Spatial Heterogeneity of Oil Palm Production in Indonesia: Implications for Intervention Strategies," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315222, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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