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Ecuador
One of our Engineers in Agriculture, Jérôme, has led the development of an innovative coca value chain reinforcement in Ecuador for fifteen years. He is now leveraging his expertise at Expert Farmer, encompassing the entire cocoa value chain, from production to by-product marketing. Below is the reference of a part of his work there.
Developing cocoa value chain in Ecuador
Location
Ecuador
Production
Cocoa
Delivery
2022
Area
Regional
Client
Casa Comercial Don Jerinomo
Sector
Private
Service(s)
Management
The challenge
In Ecuador, the majority of cocoa is produced by smallholder farmers with limited access to inputs and training, leading to low yields and inconsistent quality. Post-harvest practices like fermentation and drying are often inadequate, reducing bean value. Finally, much of the value is captured abroad, highlighting the need for stronger domestic value addition and coordination across the chain.
The result
The initiative in Ecuador reshaped the cocoa value chain by training producers and sourcing cocoa directly from farmers. By implementing advanced fermentation protocols and pioneering the extraction of cocoa mucilage juice for export, the effort has significantly enhanced production quality, boosted farmer incomes, and achieved impressive agricultural yields.
Brief of the project
The experiment in Quevedo, Ecuador, successfully addressed multiple facets of resource planning, logistics, and financial management. We orchestrated the training of a group of 150 producers and facilitated the procurement of fresh CCN51 and Nacional cocoa, sourced directly from producers across Manabí, Los Ríos, and Guayas provinces resulting in 500 tons of cocoa for export in 2021.
Our expertise extended to implementing fermentation protocols for national cocoa varieties, including polyphenol-rich purple cocoa and profiled cocoa. Additionally, we pioneered the development of a process to extract, produce, and export juice from the mucilage of cocoa pods, resulting in an output of 8,000 kilograms in 2022.
Through our technical support, we have empowered producers to enhance their income by over 300% while significantly improving the quality of their cocoa beans. This included targeted advancements such as optimizing grain size, promoting the selective use of insecticides, eliminating fungicides, and enhancing plant nutrition. These efforts culminated in achieving exceptional yields of up to 3,500 kilograms per hectare per year, a benchmark of success that underscores our commitment to sustainable and impactful consultancy services.
Highlights
What are polyphenol-rich purple cocoa and profiled cocoa ?
Polyphenol-rich purple cocoa is valued for its high antioxidant content, offering health benefits like improved heart and brain function. Profiled cocoa, on the other hand, is tailored for specific flavor or nutritional traits, making it ideal for premium or functional chocolate markets. Both types help producers differentiate their products and access higher-value segments.