CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City Highlights of Visits to Western Mindanao One of the advocacies of CIDAMi is to invite farmers, nursery operators, traders and other players to join the association in the promotion of quality standard in production, nursery operations and processing, timely that ACDI/VOCA Western Mindanao headed by Regional Manager Raul B. Itong holds workshops on Nursery Operation and Cacao Production in 3 areas namely, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City. CIDAMI team composed of Katrina Surban, Knowledge and Information Officer and Glory Jane Torres, Agriculture Technician gave orientation about CIDAMi, how to be a member and how to avail of accreditation for nursery operators. Attended the 3 separate workshops were VTEF farmers being supported by Landcare Nursery Project, twenty three (23) farmers cooperators attended in Zamboanga del Norte, twenty one (21) in Zamboanga Sibugay and thirteen (13) in Zamboanga City. Ms. Ma. Katrina Surban presented and discussed the CIDAMis background; membership, functions and benefits while Ms. Gloryjane G. Torres discussed about CIDAMis certification for nursery operators. With CIDAMi as an addition there were also four (4) Resource speaker fom ACDI/VOCA western Mindanao as follows: (1) Raul B. Itong topics is all about current practices of nursery operators and budwood, yield, quality, risk management, business planning concept/outline; Resource person (2) Charmaigne B. Lao-ay The 10 steps to best practictices in seedlings production, resource person (3) Ariel A. Lao-ay ungrafted vs. grafted seedling, what is the genetic difference between grafted and ungrafted seedlings? And why should we use grafted seedlings? Resource person four (4) Demonstrating and validating best practices and outcome of good seedlings production.

Nurseries and Cacao Farm visits

With the assistance Agriculturist Development Facilitator of ACDI/VOCA Western Mindanao, CIDAMi team visited several nurseries and cacao farm in Western Mindanao for data gathering and see the situation of farms in the area. 1. The first visit was conducted at Brgy. Lamisahan, Zamaboanga City a nursery owned by Mr. Gerardo Carpio. This four month old nursery was initially implemented by Landcare and presently assisted by ACDI/VOCA. According

to Mr. Carpio, ACDI/ VOCA gave him seedlings for his budwood garden, as well as farm tools and implements like net, seedling bags and

CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City

pesticides. His nursery produces approximately 5500 cacao seedlings every 6 months with top soil as his potting media. In order for the nursery to gain nutrients, it is recommended to apply fertilizer and pesticides with regular watering and also practice proper spacing on the seedlings and establish budwood garden.
2. The team also visited a nursery owned by Josephine Galvez at Brgy.

Sangali, Zamboanga City.This nursery was also initially implemented by Landcare and presently assisted by ACDI/VOCA. On its 1 year of operation it produces approximately 4500 seedlings in every 6 month with rice hull, top soil and chicken dung as potting substrate, with organic foliar fertilizer, insecticide and Fungicide applications. Basilan was their source of scion for the meantime because their 6 months old budwood garden with 133 trees is not matured enough to produce scion/budstick In order to avoid overgrown seedlings, it is recommended to study proper technique in grafting and also practice proper spacing of seedlings.
3. The team also visited a nursery at Sitio Mangga, Barangay Bonguaio

Zamboanga City owned by Mrs. Marilyn Aliviar and Aleli Alfonso, initially implemented by Landcare and presently assisted by ACDI/VOCA. These 1 year old nursery has the capacity of 5000 seedlings and with 100 budwood trees from ACDI/VOCA. Scions for their nursery were coming from Basilan, since their three (3) months old budwood garden is not matured enough to produce scions. The nursery is performing well.
4. Lastly, on March 9, 2013, the team visited a nursery and cacao

production area owned by LARBECO (Lamitan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative at Basilan). LARBECO was managed Mr. Jose Bernadas and initially assisted by ACDI/VOCA. Cacao production area of LARBECO has a high capacity and is very conducive for growing cacao trees, it has its own post-harvest facilities like fermentary box for five (5) days fermentation process, they were also equipped with a mechanical dyer and bean sorter though they stored on ordinary sacks.
LARBECO has 35 years old cacao trees but Mr. Jose Bernadas said that instead of rehabilitating, they are planning to cut down the old trees because they believed that new trees can produce more fruits than the old trees. The manager of the cooperative expressed financial problem to sustain their operation.

CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City For LARBECO, It is recommended to apply fertilizer, regular pruning and sanitizing to eliminate Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD).

Recommendation
1. Seeds must be selected carefully and must come from big pods and obtained from trees which are highly productive, regular bearers and free from pests. Seeds must be planted immediately since their viability is limited. 2. Seedlings to be retained in the nursery for 3-4 months must be raised in polyethylene bags. The seedlings are shaded both above and at the sides for protection against strong winds. Coconut palm fronds can be used for the purpose. 3. Transplanting can be done when the shoot becomes mature and the leaves become hard and dark green. Proper handling is necessary in transporting as the seedlings are very prone to transplanting shock. 4. Careful removal the polyethylene container to minimize disturbance. Seedlings are to be planted at the same depth as they were in the polyethylene bags. Topsoil is poured into the hole a few centimeters at a time and then carefully pressed down. 5. Proper maintenance such as weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pest control, shade adjustment and pruning are necessary to keep the trees healthy and obtain high production.