PROJECTDEVELOPMENT OF COCOA PRODUCTION CHAIN TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS AND PRESERVE BIOLOGICAL
CORRIDORS IN THE LACHUA ECOREGION
Lachua Ecoregion, Cobán, Alta Verapaz.Guatemala, Central America.Nov 25th.
LACHUA ECOREGION
Baseline
Findings:• low and inadequate management in
the pruning of the cocoa trees.• excessive shading in the plantations
(around 75% shade)• genetic material with too much
production variability • 73 % of producers are active (125)• 79 % of the area with some
management• Monilia is present in 2 % of the
plantations.• Cocoa beans are sold without being
fermented• Cocoa productions generates low
income (technology, finance system and added-value)
• Minimal full and part-time jobs created
What actions we did?
Organization
• Strengthening the producer’s organizations’ administrative and accounting system
• Support in developing the annual operative plans
What Actions we did?
• A training program implemented– Pruning– Shade– Superior trees– Grafting– Control of plague and disease– Fertilization
• 6 field school established in 6 communities
• 127 producers trained
What Actions we did?
• 25 farmer, trainers and administrators, trained in TOT methodology and cocoa technology
• All students participated in the dialogue with experts in cocoa production (BK and George Loquvam)
What actions we did?
• Technical assistance for plantations management
• 50 % of the farmers initiated with the prioritized management activities
• Monilia are monitored and under control
• 90 producers interested in establishing new plantations have been identified
What actions we did?
Genetic material for cloned plants
• Identification of superior trees– 226 trees identified, tagged, and
registered in database.
• Cloning material– Budwood garden established (100
plants)
What actions we did?
• Implementation of value-added processing centers
– 3 centers are built
– equipped with fermentation and drying infrastructure, equipment
– 1053.9 kg of wet cocoa bean have been processed
– 2943.9 kg of dry cocoa commercialized
What actions we did?
Relationships for future partnerships and commercialization:
• Lake Champlain Chocolate (Eric Lampman)
• Sacha Gold Project (George Loquvam)
• Steve Bergin (Potential buyer)
• Local Buyers
Activities for 2013
• Production of 20,000 new clonal plants
• Planting of 20 new Hectares• 20-30 new producers• 50 producers trained in field
schools• 3 new budwood garden
established with superior genetics material
• Standardize post harvest processing
• Implement the financial mechanism with the cocoa organizations
• Improve the management of the existing plantations
THANK YOU