384 American Journal of Economics and Sociology

AU About Cocoa

THE INTERNATIONAL COCOA CONFERENCE on Cocoa Economics (ICCE) organized

by ASKINDO (Asosiasi Kokao Indonesia) and CIRAD (Centre de cooperationinternationale en recherche agronomique pour le developpment) in Bali in1993 has resulted in a book edited by Franfois Ruf and P, S, Siswoputranto withEnglish editing assistance by Debbie Taylor, Cocoa Cycles. The Economics ofCocoa Supply (1995: Woodhead Publishing Ltd,, Cambridge, England) and acompanion volume in Erench by the first author {Booms and crises du cacao.Les vertiges de I'or bruri). While explaining the dynamics of the cocoa supplythey contribute to greater understanding of major ecological, economic andinstitutional changes occurring in rainforest and former rainforest regions. Theyanalyze in detail the factors behind conversion of forest to smallholder, mon-oculture farms and document the progression from monoculture to agroforestry(and back to reforestation?) which has occurred in several countries.

The problems of labor supply, geographical shifts in production and the con-sequences of disease are explained and the ecological and technical base ofcocoa production examined in the light of powerful economic, social and po-litical considerations.

Economists, scientists, agro-foresters, agriculturalists, environmentalists andothers involved in development will be interested in several lessons learnedfrom the experience of those involved in cocoa production and policy-making.The analysis of the cycles that involved deforestation, mass migrations, pioneerfronts, externalities of monoculture, property rights, trees capital and family lifecycles can be applied in the analysis of other tree crops, farming systems andcommodities such as rubber, palm oil, cloves, pepper and coffee,

Eranfois Ruf is responsible for an economic research program on cocoa atCIRAD/ASKINDO in Jakarta, P, S, Siswoputranto is executive director ofASKINDO in charge of promoting Indonesian cocoa,

E, C, G,

Food for Thought—On WryIN HIS LATEST ARTICLE (Eeb, 1892) Prof, Garner says that the chatter of monkeysis not meaningless but that they are conveying ideas to one another. This seemsto me hazardous. The monkeys might with equal justice conclude that in ourmagazine articles or literary and artistic criticisms, we are not chattering idlybut are conveying ideas to one another,

SAMUEL BUTLER