Project Update: "Cocoa, Trees and Climate Action"

What is the project about?

Over the past year, our project "Cocoa, Trees und Climate Action" has made significant strides in promoting sustainable cocoa farming in Peru. This initiative, in partnership with the cooperative Norandino, Stella Bernrain, and the Choba Choba Foundation, aims to empower cocoa farmers in the San Martín and Amazon region to adapt to climate change through agroforestry practices.

Since the last update, we have continued to build on our work by strengthening local capacities, fostering environmental stewardship, agronomic and organizational skills of participating farmers. At the heart of this project are the farmers themselves, whose commitment and collaboration drive its success.

Farmers in Bagazán are constructing their tree nursery.

Cleyner Loayza and Gilmer Acuña from Bagazán are preparing a fine soil for the seedling bags.

Here they are almost finished with the tree nursery.

Filling of the seedling bags with the prepared soil

Progress and Highlights

In the communities of San Juan de Shitari, Huicungo, and Bagazán, farmers have been actively engaged in establishing agroforestry nurseries. These nurseries have produced 5200 shade tree seedlings, including Ishpingo (Amburana cearensis), Caoba (Swietenia macrophylla) both local and threatened tree species, and 3200 cacao tree seedlings. The tree seedlings are currently planted on the cocoa plots. In San Juan de Shitari, farmers have already planted the seedlings on their fields in Bagazán this will happen this month.  to create resilient and diverse farming systems. The local school in San Juan de Shitari has also joined the effort, integrating practical lessons in biodiversity and climate resilience into their curriculums.

Farmers from San Juan de Shitari putting the seeds into the seedling bags

The seedlings seem to be ready to be planted in the field. Jose Espinoza y Silva Sulca are inspecting the seedlings in the nursery.

After a while the seeds have sprouted. As soon as they are big enough, they are brought to the field.

Planting a Caoba Seedling in the field.

Workshops and training sessions have been a cornerstone of our approach, equipping farmers with knowledge about agroforestry design, pest management, and organic fertilizer production. Through exchange visits to established agroforestry systems, farmers have gained valuable insights into the long-term benefits of sustainable practices. This hands-on learning has inspired participants to adopt these methods in their own fields.

Mapping and monitoring efforts have further supported the project’s goals, with georeferencing tools used to digitally map productive units. These tools not only help track progress but also provide a comprehensive view of the region’s agricultural landscape, ensuring that our interventions are both effective and targeted.

Farmer Miliar Navarro from San Juan de Shitari preparing the organic fermented fertilizer. First mixing the different liquid inputs together, adding it to the biomass and the seeling the tanks to let the mixture ferment until its ready to aply on the fields.

Challenges and Insights

While we were able to achieve the project’s milestones, challenges such as unpredictable weather and market fluctuations have tested the resilience of our efforts. A prolonged dry season last year underscored the importance of water management, leading to the installation of storage systems to support nurseries during critical periods. Additionally, rising cocoa prices posed a dilemma for some farmers when their cocoa trees were facing pest infestations: either sticking to organic practices and losing part of their harvest—currently a significant financial setback—or applying chemical pesticides, which would mean losing their organic certification. This highlights the need for continued education on the long-term benefits of sustainable and organic practices.

One of the most valuable lessons learned has been the power of community-driven approaches. Farmers request and appreciate being actively involved in the decision-making process, and exchange programs have proven particularly effective in fostering mutual learning and motivation.

Miliar Navarro in his cocoa plot with a recently planted Ishpingo tree.

Project Technician James Rengifo Piñero checking on the seedlings in the nursery.

Looking Ahead

This year, project activities will continue in San Martín. Currently, farmers are planning to plant the seedlings that are still in the nursery and are almost ready to be transplanted to their final destination in the cocoa fields. Further workshops on post-harvest techniques and continued efforts to strengthen farmer cooperatives will combine technical support with community engagement.

In addition, we are starting to work with farmers in the second project area in the Amazonas region around Bagua Grande. Together, we will establish tree nurseries, organize workshops, and continue supporting farmers in improving their agroecological farming practices.

We are deeply grateful to all our partners and the farmers who make this journey possible. Your commitment not only helps the environment but also supports those who produce the cocoa that goes into your chocolate brands.

Author
Manuel Holzer
Head of Sustainability