Cocoa handouts - Sustainable Agriculture Training
1 Productivity No
A certified farm does not deforest to produce more cocoa. No more cutting down of trees or burning of forest to create new cocoa farms
Let us increase the productivity, and generate more income from the existing farms,
To increase productivity, let us implement Good Agricultural Practices on the farms. Proper weed management Pruning Combining organic and inorganic fertilizers Pest and disease control Good shade management Rehabilitation and replanting of old unproductive trees Use of improved materials for planting Record keeping Timely harvesting
Version: 2012
2 Shade trees No
A certified farm maintains a good level of shade.
Without shade trees. Your cocoa trees become dry. Your soil becomes hard and poor. There are more erosion problems. Your productivity will start to decrease after a few years.
With shade trees. Your cocoa trees are protected from the sun. Shade trees contribute organic matter to the soil. Shade trees maintain moisture in the soil. Shade trees control erosion.
Remember to: Plant at least 18 shade trees per hectare. Plant many different varieties of trees to avoid diseases. Prune the trees to maintain a good level of shade. Version: 2012
No
3
Wildlife protection A certified farm is a safe place for wild animals. Hunting of wild animals is prohibited. Do not hunt endangered species at any time. Endangered species commonly found on cocoa farms include: Akatia, Efoo, Asibe, Ebene, Boapia, Aposo, Aprenkensima, Opra, Aprawa, Aprawabene, Osono and Mampam (local Twi names). Do not hunt any wildlife during the Closed Season (:Aug 1st - Dec 1st). Only if you have a license, you are allowed to hunt non-endangered animals during the Open Season (:Dec 2nd - July 31st).
Your children and grandchildren should be able to see and appreciate the wild animals on your farm.
Version: 2012
No
4
Ecosystem conservation A certified farm protects streams and forests. If you spray your cocoa trees next to a stream You will contaminate the water that people and animals will drink.
Establish a no-spray zone where you will not spray anymore. Your farm Stream No-spray zone No-spray zone Stream
No-spray zone
Indicate no-spray zones with tape Train the workers not to spray in these areas
In the long term; Create and maintain vegetative barriers all along the streams. Plant indigenous trees and do not plant any more cocoa in the no-spray zones. Version: 2012
No
5
Integrated Pest Management A certified farm keeps its crops healthy.
Maintenance pruning For better ventilation and sanitation, Remove diseased branches Remove chupons Prune branches where density is high
Sanitation harvesting To eliminate sources of diseases in your farm Remove black pods, moss, mistletoe and epiphyte Bury the black pods that were removed
Spacing To ensure that each cocoa tree receives sufficient nutrients, Respect the recommended density of 3m X 3m Where density of cocoa trees is low, plant improved planting materials of cocoa. Where density is too high, cut down some cocoa trees. Version: 2012
No
6
Waste management and How to make compost A certified farm is clean and free of wastes Organic wastes and cocoa husks : Compost them to obtain organic fertilizer.
Separate healthy pods and diseased pods. Bury the husks of the diseased pods.
Cover the cocoa husks with plastic or banana leaves. Turn it once every 2 weeks.
Apply it above the entire root zone of the cocoa trees. Continue 4-6 months until it becomes black, completely decomposed and odorless.
Plastic waste and empty chemical containers: Do not burn chemical containers or leave them on the farm. Rinse the containers three times, puncture them and send them to your Group Administrator. Your Group Administrator will store them properly, and look for suppliers, public or private agencies (such as EPA) that can recycle, incinerate or dispose these containers safely. Version: 2012
No
7
Wastewater management A certified farm does not discharge wastewater into the environment.
Kitchen wastewater Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and palm kernels
Bathroom wastewater Dig a whole and cover it with concrete with a pipe that leads the wastewater into the hole. Wastewater from washing application equipment: Do not pour the wastewater in water sources Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and charcoal Pour the wastewater in the hole Dig the hole away from water sources
Version: 2012
8 Soil conservation No
A certified farm will keep its soil in good condition. Excessive use of herbicide causes: Soil erosion Loss of fertility of the soil Contamination of the environment and water
You need to maintain a ground cover by leaving leaves from cocoa trees and shade trees on the ground.
Ground cover:
Version: 2012
Keeps the soil moisturized Fertilizes the soil Prevents weeds from growing
No
9
Storage of chemicals A certified farm is a safe place for everyone.
If you store your chemicals in your house, your workers or your family may take them. Chemicals that contain Paraquat and Atrazine are prohibited. Do not store them or use them. Following products contain Paraquat or Atrazine. Gramoquat Gramosharp Super Greenquat Gramozone Kaltrazine Maltrazine Gramofast Gramoquick Sun Atrazine Cotrazine Kamazone Baltrazine Atrazina 500c
Keep your chemicals in a safe place Example of a storage of a small farmer:
Do not keep this storage in your house.
Warning sign
Keep it locked Shelves covered with plastic Version: 2012
No
10
Protective equipment A certified farm protects the health of people. Chemical sprayers should be protected.
Wear: Hat Goggles Mask with chemical filter Gloves Raincoat or overall Boots
After spraying, the sprayer should bath and wash the protective clothing before going home
Version: 2012
Put up a red flag at the entrance of the farm so that other people will not come near
No
11
Social conditions of workers A certified farm treats workers fairly.
A child or a young worker should not:
touch a chemical product
work at heights
carry loads that are too heavy
Children should go to school during weekdays.
Outside the school hours, children and young workers can carry light loads.
Outside the school hours, children can help with simple activities without using sharp tools Version: 2012
A certified farm does not deforest to produce more cocoa. No more cutting down of trees or burning of forest to create new cocoa farms
Let us increase the productivity, and generate more income from the existing farms,
To increase productivity, let us implement Good Agricultural Practices on the farms. Proper weed management Pruning Combining organic and inorganic fertilizers Pest and disease control Good shade management Rehabilitation and replanting of old unproductive trees Use of improved materials for planting Record keeping Timely harvesting
Version: 2012
2 Shade trees No
A certified farm maintains a good level of shade.
Without shade trees. Your cocoa trees become dry. Your soil becomes hard and poor. There are more erosion problems. Your productivity will start to decrease after a few years.
With shade trees. Your cocoa trees are protected from the sun. Shade trees contribute organic matter to the soil. Shade trees maintain moisture in the soil. Shade trees control erosion.
Remember to: Plant at least 18 shade trees per hectare. Plant many different varieties of trees to avoid diseases. Prune the trees to maintain a good level of shade. Version: 2012
No
3
Wildlife protection A certified farm is a safe place for wild animals. Hunting of wild animals is prohibited. Do not hunt endangered species at any time. Endangered species commonly found on cocoa farms include: Akatia, Efoo, Asibe, Ebene, Boapia, Aposo, Aprenkensima, Opra, Aprawa, Aprawabene, Osono and Mampam (local Twi names). Do not hunt any wildlife during the Closed Season (:Aug 1st - Dec 1st). Only if you have a license, you are allowed to hunt non-endangered animals during the Open Season (:Dec 2nd - July 31st).
Your children and grandchildren should be able to see and appreciate the wild animals on your farm.
Version: 2012
No
4
Ecosystem conservation A certified farm protects streams and forests. If you spray your cocoa trees next to a stream You will contaminate the water that people and animals will drink.
Establish a no-spray zone where you will not spray anymore. Your farm Stream No-spray zone No-spray zone Stream
No-spray zone
Indicate no-spray zones with tape Train the workers not to spray in these areas
In the long term; Create and maintain vegetative barriers all along the streams. Plant indigenous trees and do not plant any more cocoa in the no-spray zones. Version: 2012
No
5
Integrated Pest Management A certified farm keeps its crops healthy.
Maintenance pruning For better ventilation and sanitation, Remove diseased branches Remove chupons Prune branches where density is high
Sanitation harvesting To eliminate sources of diseases in your farm Remove black pods, moss, mistletoe and epiphyte Bury the black pods that were removed
Spacing To ensure that each cocoa tree receives sufficient nutrients, Respect the recommended density of 3m X 3m Where density of cocoa trees is low, plant improved planting materials of cocoa. Where density is too high, cut down some cocoa trees. Version: 2012
No
6
Waste management and How to make compost A certified farm is clean and free of wastes Organic wastes and cocoa husks : Compost them to obtain organic fertilizer.
Separate healthy pods and diseased pods. Bury the husks of the diseased pods.
Cover the cocoa husks with plastic or banana leaves. Turn it once every 2 weeks.
Apply it above the entire root zone of the cocoa trees. Continue 4-6 months until it becomes black, completely decomposed and odorless.
Plastic waste and empty chemical containers: Do not burn chemical containers or leave them on the farm. Rinse the containers three times, puncture them and send them to your Group Administrator. Your Group Administrator will store them properly, and look for suppliers, public or private agencies (such as EPA) that can recycle, incinerate or dispose these containers safely. Version: 2012
No
7
Wastewater management A certified farm does not discharge wastewater into the environment.
Kitchen wastewater Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and palm kernels
Bathroom wastewater Dig a whole and cover it with concrete with a pipe that leads the wastewater into the hole. Wastewater from washing application equipment: Do not pour the wastewater in water sources Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and charcoal Pour the wastewater in the hole Dig the hole away from water sources
Version: 2012
8 Soil conservation No
A certified farm will keep its soil in good condition. Excessive use of herbicide causes: Soil erosion Loss of fertility of the soil Contamination of the environment and water
You need to maintain a ground cover by leaving leaves from cocoa trees and shade trees on the ground.
Ground cover:
Version: 2012
Keeps the soil moisturized Fertilizes the soil Prevents weeds from growing
No
9
Storage of chemicals A certified farm is a safe place for everyone.
If you store your chemicals in your house, your workers or your family may take them. Chemicals that contain Paraquat and Atrazine are prohibited. Do not store them or use them. Following products contain Paraquat or Atrazine. Gramoquat Gramosharp Super Greenquat Gramozone Kaltrazine Maltrazine Gramofast Gramoquick Sun Atrazine Cotrazine Kamazone Baltrazine Atrazina 500c
Keep your chemicals in a safe place Example of a storage of a small farmer:
Do not keep this storage in your house.
Warning sign
Keep it locked Shelves covered with plastic Version: 2012
No
10
Protective equipment A certified farm protects the health of people. Chemical sprayers should be protected.
Wear: Hat Goggles Mask with chemical filter Gloves Raincoat or overall Boots
After spraying, the sprayer should bath and wash the protective clothing before going home
Version: 2012
Put up a red flag at the entrance of the farm so that other people will not come near
No
11
Social conditions of workers A certified farm treats workers fairly.
A child or a young worker should not:
touch a chemical product
work at heights
carry loads that are too heavy
Children should go to school during weekdays.
Outside the school hours, children and young workers can carry light loads.
Outside the school hours, children can help with simple activities without using sharp tools Version: 2012
