Colombia Needs To Plant Much More Cocoa

BOGOTA, Colombia - Sept. 14, 2016 - PRLog -- Granja Luker has implemented training, technical assistance, and is providing planting material to cocoa growers in order to increase productivity in the Cacao Fino de Aroma sector and increase its offer on the international market.

According to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Colombia is part of the group of countries that produce one of the most exquisite cocoas in the world Cacao Fino de Aroma, with fruity, floral flavours and aromas and distinct maltiness. The international demand for this type of cocoa is high, meaning that it can be sold at a high price providing Colombian cocoa growers with the opportunity to increase their income.

However, of the 720.000 hectares in Colombia apt for cocoa growing, only 150.000 hectares are planted with cocoa. To change this, the Colombian government proposes that a further 150.000 hectares should be planted by 2021. Also, only 400 kilos per hectare of cocoa are produced annually; only a third of the production potential. This is due to the use of empirical production practices by the growers and the fact that of the 150.000 hectares planted with cocoa at least 50% are cultivations that were established more than 15 years ago and that need to be renewed.

To deal with these issues, CasaLuker, a 100-year old Colombian company that specialises in cocoa, created its Granja Luker 54 years ago. Granja Luker is one of the few cocoa research centres in the world, which works to modernise the technology used for the production of Cacao Fino de Aroma and its quality conservation. As such, it helps increase the benefits derived by the cocoa growers through increased productivity and cocoa production in general throughout the country.

Today, half a century after its creation and after having trained more than 30.000 people to increase the productivity of their farms by approximately 300%, Granja Luker offers cocoa growers training in best practices in all the stages of cocoa production and the technical assistance to implement such practices. It also promotes a polyculture production model, which increases the growers' benefits as it allows them to enjoy a main income from cocoa and a cash flow derived from other products such as plantain, banana, and timber products, among others. Granja Luker has also carried out research on materials that are optimal for the cultivation and characterisation of the different types of cocoa produced in the country.

"Without people coming to see what it is all about, this project is no good to anyone. It was designed and implemented for the cocoa growers and those who want to make their cocoa business a successful one, must come and see us", says Juan Carlos Arroyave, Raw Materials and Agricultural Development Manager at CasaLuker. Arroyave expressed that the company's goal is to increase the impact of Granja Luker and its commitment to growth in the cocoa sector.

For more information on Granja Luker please contact Juan Carlos Arroyave Agricultural Development Manager jcarroyave@casaluker.com.co or agro@casaluker.com.co.