Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact that introduction of passion fruit (Passiflora spp.), mapuey (Dioscorea cayenensis), and ñame (Dioscorea rotundata) had on the livelihood system of small hillside farmers in the Los Cacaos region of the Dominican Republic. The researchers used a mixed methodology approach to identify cash, food, credit, and labor associated with the livelihood system of six households with varied compositions, and to examine the influence of the traditional agricultural system versus the adoption of alternative crops (passion fruit, mapuey, and ñame) upon simulated models of the six households. The analysis revealed that households with more labor availability exhibited greater potential for increasing annual year-end cash upon adoption of the selected crops, particularly passion fruit. No households selected mapuey. Findings support the importance of examining household composition when developing and tailoring alternatives and conducting on-farm trials for low resource farmers.

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