Analisis Daya Saing Kakao di Wilayah Bolaang Mongondow Raya

Abstract

Cocoa is a strategic commodity that plays a vital role in the economy of the Bolaang Mongondow Raya region; however, its development continues to face production fluctuations and inter-regional capacity gaps. This study aims to (1) analyze the competitiveness of cocoa in Bolaang Mongondow Raya and (2) analyze the effect of productivity and land area on cocoa competitiveness. This quantitative research utilized secondary data from the Ministry of Agriculture and BPS, comprising panel data from five regencies/cities over the 2015–2024 period, totaling 50 observations. Competitiveness was measured using a production-based modification of the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, while hypothesis testing was conducted through panel data regression utilizing the Common Effect Model (CEM) with Robust Standard Error estimation. The analysis reveals that regional comparative advantage fluctuates, with only Bolaang Mongondow Regency recording an RCA > 1 in the majority of the observation years (2016 and 2018–2024). Based on the regression results, partially, land area (β1 = 0.0004635; p = 0.011) and crop productivity (β2 = 0.0099985; p = 0.004) exert a positive and significant effect on cocoa competitiveness. Simultaneously, both variables also demonstrate a significant effect (F = 6.65) and are able to explain 39.07% of the variation in cocoa competitiveness within the study area (R² = 0.3907). The implications of these findings emphasize the necessity of optimizing smallholder land utilization and improving harvest efficiency through crop replanting and the application of modern cultivation technology to strengthen the region's comparative position.