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Cameroon Pilot Project:
Cacao Production System
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Researcher: James Gockowski
Location: Southern Cameroon
Partners/Funding Organizations: USGS, STCP-IITA, FORCE, FUPROCAM, ACDI-VOCA, CAPCAO
Start Date: September 2000
Background
In today's globally interdependent food economy, consumers are demanding more information on the methods used in production of the foods they eat. In the cacao sector, there is an interest in developing information on a product identity preservation system of cacao production. Prior to liberalization in the early 1900s, Cameroonian cacao farmers received premiums in the bulk processing market because of the high fat content and reddish color of the cacao powder derived from their beans. Since liberalization, for a multitude of reasons, these premiums are no longer paid. Under the current liberalized government policy, Cameroon farmers have been given new laws of association that allow them a means for taking charge of their own affairs. Under the Sustainable Tree Crops Program the farmers are interested in developing a production information system to monitor producer practices and various product attributes.
Objectives
The project will:
- Establish information essential for developing business plans at the farm level and build strength and capacity of farmer organizations
- Develop targeted extension approaches such as Farmer Field Schools and Integrated pest management to address specific market demands
- Establish an information system to track production practices and product attributes for marketing and/or environmental purposes.
Results
25 Extension agents have been trained in general and GPS data collection through a course given by ACDI-VOCA. Initial surveys have been conducted for over 900 farmers from 3 Federations (over 20 rural organizations) including FORCE and FUPROCAM. Georeferencing and tree density data was collected for 120 farms using GPS; a database structure was developed. Some of the farm-level data collected on cacao production includes phytosanitary practices, farm area statistics, labor practices, capsid and black pod treatments, fertilizer application, production statistics, and fermentation and drying practices. Initial dialogue has also taken place with industry and the exporters to develop a unique marketing position for Cameroon cacao relative to quality or another product attribute.
Cacao Production System pdf
Tercile Description
|
first tercile (1=low) |
second tercile (2 = middle) |
third tercile (3 = high) |
| area of cocoa plantation |
0 - 2 ha |
2 - 3.5 ha |
> 3.5 ha |
| shade | 0 - 23 trees / ha |
23 - 60 trees / ha |
> 60 trees / ha |
| fungicide |
0 - 11369 CFA / ha |
11369 - 33416 FCFA/ ha |
> 33416 FCFA / ha |
| pesticide |
0 - 11000 FCFA/ ha |
11000 - 33750 FCFA /ha |
> 33750 FCFA / ha |
| Insecticide (two classes) |
< 110 FCFA / ha | > 110 FCFA / ha |
|
Percentage of Farmer with null expense on phytosanitary investment
|
Insecticide |
Fungicide |
Pesticide |
| Amitie |
100% |
9% |
9% |
| Fegaisem |
93 % |
0% |
0% |
| Nkometou |
50% |
0% |
0% |
| UCCE |
100% |
20% |
20% |
| Ugaply |
100% | 14% |
14% |
| Ugicabo |
6.25% |
6.25% |
0% |
| Ugicaf |
70.5% |
0% |
0% |
| Ugile2 |
94.2% |
0% |
0% |
| Ugiprodat |
100% |
6.6% |
6.6% |
| Ugisak |
100% |
11% |
11% |
| Ugpapbm |
82% |
0% |
0% |
| Ugropalt |
0% |
0% |
0% |
| Upas |
81% |
0%
| 0% |
General Statistics for the whole cocoa farmer in the PMIS.
| General | Average |
| Cocoa Farm area | 3.56 ha |
| Yield | 327.43 kg |
| Production | 683.83 Kg |
| Shade | 63 trees |
Synthesis of general statistics
| Average Area(ha) | Average production(Kg/Farmer) | Number of cocoa farmers | Total productive area (ha) | Tonnage |
| Amitie | 2.705 | 777.02 | 600 | 1623 | 466213.2 |
| Fegaisem | 2.259 | 485.034 | 860 | 1942.74 | 417129.2 |
| Nkometou | 3.333 | 719.667 | 120 | 399.96 | 90506.6 |
| UCCE | 0.92 | 923 | 1750 | 1610 | 1615250 |
| Ugaply | 4.833 | 433.917 | 1300 | 6282.9 | 998106.2 |
| Ugicabo | 2.437 | 673.429 | 260 | 633.62 | 176549.8 |
| Ugicaf | 4.5 | 978.75 | 282 | 1269 | 250074.5 |
| Ugile2 | 2.757 | 591.955 | 250 | 689.25 | 178264.8 |
| Ugiprodat | 2.233 | 332.286 | 618 | 1379.994 | 226859.2 |
| Ugisak | 3.056 | 336 | 200 | 611.2 | 67200 |
| Ugpapbm | 4.132 | 429 | 950 | 3925.4 | 583450.1 |
| Ugropalt | 2 | 1059 | 160 | 320 | 169440 |
| Upas | 1.405 | 922.5 | 230 | 323.15 | 234564 |
| TOTAL in the PMIS | | | 7580 | 21010.214 | 5473607 |
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