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