Many cocoa farmers are struggling because their trees are getting old and producing less fruit. This is a result of many farmers not replanting cocoa trees in several years. Additionally, climate change and diseases are making things tougher. To keep cocoa farming sustainable, farmers need to plant new trees regularly.
One solution is providing farmers with new cocoa seedlings to replace aging trees.
It takes about five years for newly planted cocoa trees to start producing fruit but once they do, they can keep producing for up to 25 years. The long-term investment in planting new trees ensures that cocoa farms remain productive.
At no cost, we provide Nigerian cocoa farmers with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria’s ‘TC Series’ hybrid cocoa trees.
This particular hybrid was chosen for multiple reasons:
- The TC series trees will bear fruit in two and a half to three years, compared to 5-7 years for the farmers’ familiar F3 Amazon or Amelonado trees.
- The number of beans per pod in the TC series hybrid is nearly double the quantity the farmers currently have. These new trees are expected to have 55-60 beans per pod, compared to 25-30 beans per pod in existing trees.
- Additionally, these new trees have a higher resistance to disease and require less fertilizer.
By giving farmers new seedlings for free, this initiative encourages them to replace their old trees and keep their farms healthy and productive. New trees are more resistant to disease and better adapted to changing climate conditions, boosting yields and ensuring a steady supply of cocoa.
Distributong the free seedlings not only helps farmers maintain their farms but also supports the overall sustainability of the global cocoa industry. It ensures that future generations of farmers can continue to produce high-quality cocoa and keep the industry thriving.
The initiative to plant new trees is a vital step in revitalizing cocoa farms. By providing farmers with the resources they need to plant new trees, it helps secure the future of cocoa farming. This approach addresses the immediate challenges of aging trees and reduced yields, while also supporting the long-term sustainability of the cocoa industry.
