Attracting new talent Lady cocoa farmer Teresa is a newcomer to the cocoa-growing business, having been given the opportunity to develop some land owned by her uncle. We first met Teresa in 2005 when she won one of our annual incentive prizes – a sewing machine to help clothe her family – awarded for the best-kept farm. Teresa had previously purchased a few hundred seedlings from Osuben nursery manager, David, and was set in 2006 for a few thousand more.
We were delighted therefore, to hear from the team on the ground that Teresa had volunteered some of her land for a regeneration project that we wanted to test, and on Lynn’s last visit she caught up with Teresa to find out how it had all gone.
Overgrown and infertile areas were cleared, soil-tested, and then planted with Mukuna bean seeds and left to develop for 3 months. At the end of this period, the lush green carpet of Mukuna plants covering the land was cut down, and the foliage left to decompose on the land. The plants bring nitrogen back into the infertile soil, and the decomposed plants create the right ground composition for nurturing young seedlings. At the end of the 3 month period we tested the soil again; the land was proven fertile, and cocoa seedlings were reintroduced to the previously hostile land.
There are now many farmers interested in taking up the opportunity to regenerate their land. Clearing overgrown farm areas is back-breaking work, and the possibility of a poor yield at the end of it all is a disincentive to many. With this proven method of regenerating the land, then the effort of clearance is worth investing, and ultimately increased cocoa coverage will lead to further improved livelihoods.
Teresa, for one, was absolutely delighted with her extended farming capacity, and as the Hotel Chocolat team departed, she was already in negotiation with David for this year’s seedlings procurement!
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