Success Story: "Enormous Hope for Cocoa Farmers Improving Quality, Increasing Incomes
Sutarmi, a 33 year old woman from Bila Hamlet, Tapporang Village, Pinrang District South Sulawesi, is known for her perseverance and hard work in managing her cocoa farm.
Although her cocoa trees are quite old (18 years), she continues to care for them and look for ways to improve production.
Sutarmi has found ways to resolve her concerns and fears about the future of her farm and the decreasing yields since she joined the AMARTA Sulawesi Kakao Alliance (ASKA).
The ASKA basic training program provides farmers with knowledge to increase productivity, reduce cocoa pests and disease, improve post-harvest handling practices, meet export grade standards, and enhance the quality of their cocoa beans.
Sutarmi improved the overall quality of her cocoa by implementing the PsPSP method that she learned through the training. PsPSP includes frequent harvesting, pruning, sanitation and fertilization to mitigate the negative effect that cocoa pod borer has on cocoa quality. Before her participation in the program, Sutarmi noted, “I never thought my cocoa would get better. The trees have gotten worse over the years and no matter what I tried nothing helped.”
Since receiving ASKA training, one of the most important changes is that she can now sell her improved quality beans to ASKA partner and cocoa exporter Olam. Prior to the ASKA training, Sutarmi used to sell her cocoa with a moisture content well above the industry norm resulting in higher discounting and lower prices.
Now, the improved quality beans sell for a higher price. Sutarmi noted, “Last time when I sold 23.5 kgs of cocoa, I went to a local trader who offered me 300,000Rp (US$33) then I went to the Olam buying station where based on the quality I received 501,750Rp (US$55) an increase of approximately 70% in income.”
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