Our Action Plan
Farmer Field School Training
A farmer from Côte d'Ivoire carefully pruning a cocoa tree to maximise the harvest of his crop
Farmer field schools include many subjects, from pruning and pest management to post-harvest practices such as fermentation and drying; from child labour and environmental issues to commercially selling their beans. To give you an idea of the relevance and benefits of this training, we’ve expanded on three examples:
Pruning
To save time and money, some farmers let their trees grow too tall. But it’s a false economy because it makes harvesting more time-consuming and difficult. In the farmer field schools they’re shown how to limit the height of the trees by correct pruning, which increases the harvest. To add credibility to the theory, the schools have “test” and “control” patches of land side-by-side so that the farmers can see the difference and experience for themselves how much easier it is to pick the pods. This “proof of the pudding” approach is fundamental to all field school activities as it convincingly demonstrates to farmers how they can benefit.
Drying
Cocoa beans drying on bamboo racking, being carefully tendered by farmers
Farmers are also shown how to dry cocoa beans more effectively. Properly dried beans need to have their humidity content reduced to about 8%, and this can take several days. Rather than simply leaving them on the ground, they’re shown how much better it is to dry them on raised mats, away from contamination. It encourages more even drying and minimises spoilage.
Pesticides
Cocoa trees are attacked by insects, fungi and other diseases, all of which have a direct effect on the tree’s yield. These threats to the small, fragile cocoa tree need to be managed. Pesticide are a last resort but are often necessary. The field schools teach farmers how to use them in a responsible manner which doesn’t harm the environment or the people applying them, and is safe for the cocoa itself. The schools also teach Integrated Pest Management. This minimises the need for pesticides in the first place and controls pests while not harming beneficial insects that pollinate the trees or attack other harmful insects. However, the best way to reduce the use of pesticides is to develop stronger plants that are less vulnerable to disease, like the ones we’ve produced and are regularly shipping to cocoa growing regions.
