November 21-23 2012 Apo View Hotel, DAVAO, Philippines

Order of Presentation

• Background

• Hybrid Clone development Program-PNG

• Selection Criteria

• Achievements

• Production and Distribution of Clonal Materials

• Support Technologies

• Current Situation

• Few Points for Philippines Cocoa

Development of Cocoa Hybrid

Clones for Improved Cocoa

Production in Papua New Guinea.

By Jeffrie Marfu

PNG Cocoa Coconut Research Institute

P.O.Box 1846

Rabaul, ENBP

Papua New Guinea.

Background

Cocoa mostly exported as dry cocoa beans

Production based on Trinitario and Upper Amazon

Recent production 35-45,000 metric tonnes

Third most important commodity cash crop

Fetches between USD100-150 million

Close to 70% of production small holder based.

PNG cocoa classified “Fine Flavoured” cocoa.

Cocoa R&D undertaken by PNGCCRI

• Genetically IDENTICAL

• Uniformity of all trees within the same clones

• Performance should be reliable and repeatable at

any given sets of environmental conditions

Hybrid Clone Development Program Adopted in 1994 as main breeding Strategy to address;

Low farm yields – 200-300kg/ha

High yield variability

Rapid Yield Decline after 4-5 years

Has become an integral part of the current breeding program

Criteria for Selection of Clones

• High yielding Potential

• Good Production Stability

• Good levels of resistance to pest and diseases

• Good environmental adaptability and stability

• Good quality characteristics

****Maintenance of the FF genetic materials****

Achievements

• Two Series of Hybrid Clones Produced

• First series of Hybrid Clones released in March 2003-

Eight Clones

• Second Series to be released in first quarter of 2013-

Ten Clones

First Series of Clones Big Clones Small Clones

37-13/1 34-13/2

16-2/3 17-3/1

36-3/1 73-14/1

63-7/3 73-2/2

Big Clones

Small Clones

34-13/2 73-14/1 17-3/1

63-7/3 16-2/3 37-13/1

Second Series of Clones Big Clones Small Clones

K-9 16-4-2

K-6 15-4-7

K-4 63-3-8

21-4-8 13-3-2

17-2-16 37-2-10

37-2-10 17-2-16 21-4-8

63-8-3 16-4-2 15-4-7

Production and Distribution of Clonal Planting Materials to Farmers Awareness of Clones

Establishment of central nurseries

Establishment of central bud wood gardens

Training on Grafting Techniques

-Patch Budding

-Top Grafting

Clonal seedling distribution to farmers

Training of Management of Clones

Supporting Technologies

1) Juvenile Budding Using 14 days old root stock

2) Use of Secondary Orthotropic Buds to Reduce

Jorquette Height

Orthotropic Budded Clone

3) Use of Mutant Root Stock to Reduce Plant

Height

Current Situation with Planting Materials

• Hybrid seed production to be phased out by 2015

• Currently Hybrid seeds are distributed to more distant

farmers

• Government support of USD 3million for extension services

to establish nurseries and bud wood garden & train

farmers.

Few thoughts for Cocoa in the Philippines

Current R&D efforts on Cocoa should be further supported.

Production of clones should be encouraged to improve production at farm level.

Farmers should be mobilized into formation of farmer groups and corporative,-training, quality , quantity.

Proactive approach should be taken by government, donors and stake holders to ensure sustainability.

Approach to the industry should be holistic – Farm to Market.