Farmers' adaptations to production constraints and their implications for agricultural policy: the case of rice cropping systems in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

This paper aims to show that the ratoon and other local rice cropping systems employed by small farmers in the Dominican Republic are well adapted to the production conditions in which they are practised. It is suggested that under most conditions, a ratoon is more cost-effective than double cropping (strongly favoured by the Republic's rice officials), at both micro- and macro-level. Therefore, a re-examination of the official view on rice cropping systems is recommended, as well as the incorporation of the ratoon in programmes directed at the development of new rice technology.