Agribusiness Market and Support Activity (AMARTA) Project: Cocoa Farmer Support Training Program
Project Dates: 2006-2009
Country: Indonesia
Funders: US Agency for International Development, Olam International Ltd., and the World Cocoa Foundation
Implementer: Development Alternatives Inc.
Overview
The Agribusiness Market and Support Activity (AMARTA) Project works with 10 agribusiness sectors to improve quality and increase productivity throughout each of the value chains. The AMARTA Sulawesi Kakao Alliance (ASKA) provides training to farmers in Sulawesi with the aim of improving cocoa productivity and quality by approximately 20%. A premium is offered by Blommer Chocolate to farmers whose cocoa meets export quality standards. In Bali, AMARTA Sustaindonesia Kakao (SKA) is assisting Big Tree Farms to develop high value fermented cocoa beans while striving for organic production.
Program Objectives:
- AKSA/Sulawesi – To enable 20,000 farmers to increase productivity from 700 to 850 kgs per hectare by providing training in good agricultural practices and approaches to reducing losses to pests and diseases.
- SKA/Bali - Approximately 2,000 smallholder cocoa farmers will participate in a pilot project with Big Tree Farms to produce high value fermented cocoa beans while also focusing on increased productivity, reduced pest and diseases, post-harvest handling, and quality with specialized training materials that address organic farming.
Progress to Date:
- 3,000 farmers complete first cycle of training in Sulawesi. Farmers representing 120 farmer groups in South and Southeast Sulawesi participated in training sessions on topics such as harvesting, sanitation, pod opening and drying, and pest and disease management.
- 78 farmer trainers trained for Sulawesi Program. The trainers completed a six-day course with PT Olam Indonesia staff, private sector partners of the Bali Program, and representatives from local estate crops agencies, the Indonesian Agency for Transfer of Agricultural Technology and Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute.
- 4 VCDs completed for Sulawesi Program. The VCDs cover topics such as pest and diseases and side grafting, and are available to all interested parties. 9,000 VCD sets were produced and 380 were sent to the Directorate General of Estate Crops for use in 38 provinces. To date, the following organizations have applied to use the VCDs: Directorate General of Estate Crops, ACIAR-SADI (AUSAID), PT. Olam Indonesia, Cargill, FMC, and Armajaro.
- 34 solar dryers built for Sulawesi Program. 12 dryers were built at buying stations and 22 smaller individual dryers were constructed. Solar dryers facilitate proper drying and storage of cocoa on the farm. Drying and storage are important to ensuring that the cocoa meets quality standards for moisture content.
- Series of 14 posters completed. The posters cover a variety of on-farm and off-farm topics and have been distributed to buying stations, ASKA farmer groups and other stakeholders.
Success Story: "Enormous Hope" for Cocoa Farmers Improving Quality, Increasing Incomes
Success Story: Improving Quality Increases Income for Sulawesi Farmer