Technology Transfer for Cocoa Farmers in VietnamCocoa Association of Asia - Vietnam Project in collaboration

with Nong Lam University

Pham HD Phuoc

Introduction

COCOA IN VIETNAM:• New crop (compared with others): Less information, few good cocoa

farmers• Different from others perennial crops that already familiar to farmers:

• Flowers are formed on the trunk and branches vs fruits on the top of new branches• Flowers/fruit setting: All year round vs seasonal • High potassium content in the pod

• Perennial crops:• Establishment phase: # 3 – 4 years• Production phase: 4 – 5 years after planting

• Introduced by NGO/PRIVATE sectors via short term projects: 2 – 4 years

Flowering/Fruit setting:

Fertilizer:

Pruning:

VS

COCOA OTHER CROPS

Problems

• Cocoa farmers depended on the project that only lasted a few years. When the project terminated, technology could not be transferred to farmers on time.

• Short term projects: Shortage of knowledge /techniques in production phase for farmers knowledge• Pruning: Botany of cauliflory• Fertilizer: Frequency of application; formula; quantity.• Pests and diseases: On pods

• Quality of Training Facilitators (TF)

• Using cultural managements of other crops to apply on cocoa (a cauliflory):

Survey

• Low cocoa yield

• Cocoa farmers go to familiar/high value crops: Pomelo, durian, black pepper, coffee

• Technique package is available. Problem is to transfer this package to cocoa farmers

• Transfer technology: Not effective

• Farmers: Lacking of confidence in practicing different cultural managements, especially pruning

P Problems:Fertilizers

• FertilizersFormula:

• 16-16-8

• 18-46-0 (DAP)

• 20-20-25

Problems: Pruning

Too much pruningNo pruning

Problems: Pests and diseases controlHelopeltis theivora

Life cycle: 16 – 27 days

CAA project

Objective:

To increase productivity of mature cocoa farms while maintaining quality.

Activities

• Setting up demonstration on existing farms

• Recruiting /training quality TFs• Working directly with individual farmer

• Training• Content

• Pruning• Fertilizer• Pest and disease control • Post harvest technology

• Mass training• Individual training

• Brochure

Brochure

Field Facilitators

Setting up demonstrations

Setting up demonstrations

Mass training

Individual training

Individual training

Prunning PrincipleTo ensure good ventilation and excessive vegetation (water shoots, overlapping leaves). This will improve yield, allow easy harvesting, and reduce pest and disease incidences.

Correctly prunned trees with good ventilation

Over-prunned trees with burnt leaves

Fertilizers

FORMULA

FREQUENCY OF APPLICATION

QUANTIY

METHOD OF APPLICATION

INTERGRATED DISEASE MANAGEMENT

PATHOGEN

Field sanitation Removing Termite/ant tentsMulchingBio control (Trichoderma)Trunk injection‘’’

ENVIRONMENTMulchingSoil moistureOrganic fertilizerVentilationControlling shade tree…

HOSTSResistant clonesTree healthArchitecture of the tree…

Post harvest technology

- Box fermentation

- Sun drying

- Reducing sugar content in mucilage

Mass media

Results

• Locations: • Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Dong Nai and Baria-Vung Tau• 3 demonstrations• 4 TFs

• Training:• Mass: 1000 farmers• Individual: 100 farmers

• Brochure

• Yield: > 1.5 ton/ha

• Few involved cocoa farmers move to other crops

THANK YOU!