SZ COCOA FOUNDATION - @‘S OF THE PHIL aS PT Tea, = =: ie erat ESSNThis is a joint publication of the DA_GMA High Value Commercial Crops Program and Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. DA-GMA HIGH VALUE COMMERCIAL CROPS PROGRAM Ath Floor, Department of Agriculture Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel No.: (632) 927 9460, 928 8741 loc 2403 & 2404 hyce.da.gov.ph COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. Ground Floor, Consuelo Building 1365 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines Telefax No.: (632) 413 4408, Tel No.: (632) 972 3294 E-mail: info@cocoaphil.org | Website: www.cocoaphil.org This publication may be reprinted or reproduced in part or whole with prior written permission from the publisher. Bibliographic Citation: ESPINO, R. R. C., RAMOS, J. V. (editors) Cacao Technology Resource Manual, Quezon City Department of Agriculture, 2009. DA-GMA HVCCP, 2009 and Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., 2009 Design and Layout by: JL. Curilan a3 SZZF Republic of the Philippines WH Gf PUPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary \,__ Eliptia! Road Ditiman \' Quezon City 1100 A Message, from the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture | would like to congratulate the officers and members of the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil) for coming up with this “Cacao Technology Resource Manual,” in tandem with the DA-GMA High Value Commercial Crops Program. Philippine agriculture today is presented with an extraordinary opportunity. We have crossed the pathway towards the 21st century, and we are beginning a new journey into modernization and competitiveness — into equitable progress and an era of greater opportunities and wealth for the Filipino small farmers, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs and their communities. And we all agree that this can be done by encouraging them to diversify, and produce various commodities of increasingly good quality. This manual — which features the best practices and most relevant technologies in cacao farming — is a demonstration that what we have tasked ourselves to achieve under the Cacao Industry Road Map is possible. We are convinced that cacao is indeed a viable and profitable intercrop that could provide Filipino farmers additional incomes and livelihood opportunities, as well as agro-ecological benefits in terms of enhancing pest and disease management, deterring insects from infesting a farm and improving soil condition.Admittedly, there exist bright prospects for the industry, considering the world's increasing demand for cocoa beans, of which the country’s current 5,800 heclares of cacao farms yield 6,000 metric fons annually could only satisfy one-fifth of our average annual requirement of 30,000 tons. And we have potential areas, totaling ot least 100,000 hectares of coconut farms nationwide, which could be intercropped with cacao. We therefore pledge our continued support to revive and massively promote cacao farming in the country — by providing our farmers with technical, logistical and marketing assistance, including the conduct of consultations and training programs — through the GMA HVCC Program. Again, | thank and congratulate all those involved in this farmer-oriented publication. Mabuhay kayong lahat! ATTY. ARTHUR CYAPA Message from the Progvam Director ag! g} The potential for a thriving and profitable cocoa industry in the Philippines is very good. Planting cacao in existing coconut farms, and/or with other agronomic suitable companion crops will provide addifional and diversified incomes for farmers, and generate employment, while contributing to maintaining the biodiversity and eco-systems With the expected increases in demand for quality cacao in the next 15 to 20 years, massive planting of cacao under coconut trees would contribute to increases in: the volume, quality and the value of agriculture production for domestic consumption and for exports; number of farms engaged in diversified farming; number of agri-businesses engaged in export activities; and, contribute to creation of full time on-farm and off farm jobs. Having enlisted among the priorily high value commercial crops, the need therefore to orient cacao production systems to market opportunities or buyers specifications is imperative and inevitable, hence, efforts in coming up with this Cacao Technology Resource Manual has been geared towards this end. is hoped that the technologies and practices presented in this Manual will be adopted and serve as a tool that will help empower the private sector, particularly the farmers and entrepreneurs, in order fo expand investments in cacao, and thereby increase their contribution to the overall economic growth, producer's incomes and consumer health and welfare. REN FAEL C. ESPINO rogram DirectorFOREWORD Sustainable cacao production requires farmers’ access to adequate technology and market information to be able to arrive at sound decisions. Practical cacao farm management approaches, alternative and low-cost mechanisms in combating pests and diseases and improved cacao varieties are available as outputs of research activities in several foreign and domestic research and academic institutions. A farmer should be able to maximize the productivity level of the farm unit while sustaining production of quality products in order to attain competitive advantages. Low agricultural productivity is a major cause of rural poverty in countries with relatively large small hold agriculture sector like in the Philippines. Evidence indicates that there is a significant “practice gap” in agriculture: the available knowledge about yield increasing or cost reducing simple agricultural practices is not used extensively for a variety of reasons. This results in a situation where the farmer has difficulties to pay for his children’s education, to spend money on farm inputs or to save money at the bank. Access to credit is very bad. Thus, the productivity remains low. This cycle needs to be broken. This Technology Resource Manual is endeavored for an ultimate objective of enabling cacao farmers produce the quality and volume required by the markets by providing them with the right tools, on building the skills and assets necessary for them to foster their own development, and thus provide opportunities for the next generation. esThe information contained in this manual is hoped to result to increases in cacao production, open up business opportunities for planting materials propagators, generate investments on fermentation and drying centers’ among farmers’ groups, and expand operations of domestic grinders and cacao products processors. The fact that cocoa is more than just having economic importance, its being part of Filipino culture and tradition in most households in the Philippines will speed the rate at which investors and consumers are willing to contribute to the growing industry. At this stage of our advocacy for equitable growth and development we enjoin a more comprehensive and sustained collaborative efforts of the industry stakeholders: national government institutions; local government units; foreign and local donor institutions and development organizations; and most importantly, the farmers in pursuit of the path towards sustainable cacao industry in the Philippines. Ar EDWARD F. DAVID President, Cocoa Foundation CocoaPhil of the Philippines, Inc.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are grateful to the Department of Agriculture, the GMA- High Value Commercial Crops Program, the National Agricultural & Fishery Council, and the World Cocoa Foundation for the enduring support being extended in pursuit of the development of the Philippine cacao industry, a part of which is our being able to publish this Cacao Technology Resource Manual. We greatly appreciate the expertise, information and time contributed in several ways by Filipino and foreign stakeholders in the preparation of this Manual. Acknowledgement is due to Dr. Smilja Lambert of Mars, Incorporated, for the comprehensive information shared on fermentation and drying practices; Mr. B.K. Matlick of the WCF for sharing information on solar drying experiences and practices in other cacao producing countries; to Mr. Peter van Grinsven of Mars, Incorporated, for several cacao production and industry sustainability advises; to Dr. Romulo L. Cena, University of Southern Mindanao for reference materials and technical advises; to Dr. Eulito Bautista, of Philrice for the development of shredder for cacao pod husks and its composting procedures; for the support extended by Director Rogelio Chio and the HVCCP staff of DA-RFU XI; to the staff of the HYCCP main office in Quezon City for the continued assistance extended in many ways, especially to Dr. Rene Rafael Espino; and, to the Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery Products Standard for facilitating the development of the Philippine National Standard for Cacao. We are also taking this opportunity to express gratitude to the ACDI/VOCA for extending the support from the USAID for the implementation of the SUCCESS Phase 1 Project that gave us opportunity to test and verify strategies and technologies at the farm level, as well as of the support from the USDA for the SUCCESS Phase 2 Project that allowed us to expand and gear up the advocacy and promotion for sustainable cacao industry in the Philippines with the adoption of the technologies and practices contained in this Manual. aTABLE OF CONTENTS Establishment of Budwood Garden/Scion Grove * 1 Site Selection Varieties to be Used Maintenance Establishment & Management of Cacao Nursery * 7 Site Selection Site Establishment Preparing the Growing Medium Proper Care of Seedlings in the Nursery Propagation of Planting Materials * 12 Propagation By Seeds Vegetative Propagation Patch Budding Community Nodal Grafting Single Nodal Side-grafting Conventional Cleft Grafting Field Planting * 25 As an Intercrop to Existing Coconuts Planting on Open Areas/ Logged-over Areas Pruning * 30 How to Determine which Branches to Prune How to Cut Large Branches Direction to Determine the Branches fo be Cut Off Types of Pruning Pruning Technique: Non-propagated Pruning Technique: Propagated Trees Rehabilitation of Cacao Trees * 37Plant Nutrition + 43 Recommendation for Taking Soil Samples Average Nutrient Application at Different Ages Making Compost Using Pod Husks * 48 Materials Preparation Management of Common Pests & Diseases * 52 Methods Recommended Mechanisms in Managing Common Pests and Diseases Harvesting & Post Harvest Operations * 58 Pods Harvesting Pods Breaking and Removal of Seeds The Fermentation Process Cacao Beans: Drying Process Standard Quality Specification + 68 Sampling Procedures for Determining the Bean Count Procedures in Determining Defects Through Cut Test Procedures in Determining the Moisture Content Procedures in Determining Waste Marketing + 75 References * 79 ae - °° ©INTRODUCTION The production of good quality cacao beans starts with the right variety. It is then assured with the adoption of appropriate tree culture and farm practices, harvesting, fermentation and drying. It requires conscious effort on the part of the farmers to ensure that cacao beans meet the standard of quality required in the market. While this concern addresses the economic well being of a cacao farmer, he should also be responsible in assuring the well being of the future cocoa farmers. The farmers’ endeavor must, therefore, be hinged on the concept of sustainability and environmental accountability. The farmers’ effort necessitates continued support primarily in terms of technology and market updates. The availability, accessibility and timeliness of such information obtained at least cost, are major enabling factors for farmers to arrive at sound farm decisions. This context emphasizes the significant role of the extension agents and the farmer-leaders as links between farmers and technology sources, as well as between farmers and the market. Thus, the extension capabilities of the extension agents and the farmer-leaders should be enhanced to help the cacao farmers maintain a steady source of income and be at the mainstream of the cocoa industry. This technology resource manual shall be a friendly guide on the verified technologies and practices on cacao production that could share when they conduct training of farmers. It contains basic steps, methodologies, practices and considerations in growing cacao based on technologies from both private and public research institutions.REFERENCES WOOD, G.A.R. & R.A. LASS. 1987. COCOA. 4" Edition, Longman Scientific and Technical ESPINO, R.C., RAMOS, J.V. & C.S.ATIENZA. 2001. Techno- Guide for Cacao in the Philippines. HYCCP Techno- guide series no. 2, Department of Agriculture COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. 1999. Cacao Pests and Diseases. Cacao Information Bulletin. COCOA FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. 1999. Preparing Cacao for the Market. Cacao Information Bulletin SUCCESS Alliance-Philippines Phase 1 Project: Cacao Production Technology Training Manual, 2004 HIl, CHING.L., ABDUL RAHMAN, R., JINAP. S. CHE MAN, YB., Quality of Cacao beans dried using a direct solar dryer at different loadings. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Malaysia. 2006 RICHARDS, N. & THANH, H. 2007. Cocoa Nursery Manual: Plant Production & Nursery Operations for Cocoa Production in South East Asia ALCALA, E. A. 2003. Approaches to Farm Establishment and Crop Maintenance, Training Hand-Out, Training of Trainers, Puerto Princesa City +CABANGBANG, R.P. 2003. Rehabilitation of Cacao. Training Hand-Out, Training of Trainers, Puerto Princesa City CALVO, A. F. 2003. Cacao: Crop Maintenance. Training Hand- Out, Training of Trainers, Puerto Princesa City CENA, R.L. 2003. Establishment of Source of Planting Materials, Propagation and Maintenance. CENA, R. L. 2003. Seed/Budwood Garden Establishment Philippine National Standard for Cacao, final draft version, DA- BAFS, 2008This is a joint publication of the DA-GMA High Value Commercial Crops Program and Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc DA-GMA HIGH VALUE COMMERICIAL CROPS PROGRAM 4th Floor- Department of Agriculture Elliptical Road - Diliman + Quezon City Tel no.: (63-2) 927 9460, 741 loc. 2403 & 2404 hvee.d Co OUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. Feo Ons Ne ete ee Ceo eee OE Te ed Telefax no.: ( CocoaPhil aE OP SeE TU Mig kates) to eae? pica ee aceterteec yon scoaphil.org