Productivity
A certified farm does not deforest to produce more cocoa.
No
1
No more cutting down of trees or burning of forest to create new cocoa farms
To increase productivity, let us implement Good Agricultural Practices on the farms.
Pest and disease control Pruning
Good shade management Proper weed management
Combining organic and inorganic fertilizers
Let us increase the productivity, and generate more income from the existing farms,
Record keeping
Rehabilitation and replanting of old unproductive trees
Timely harvesting
Shade trees
Without shade trees.
Your cocoa trees become dry.
Your soil becomes hard and poor.
There are more erosion problems.
Your productivity will start to decrease after a few years.
With shade trees.
Your cocoa trees are protected from the sun.
Shade trees contribute organic matter to the soil.
Shade trees maintain moisture in the soil.
Shade trees control erosion.
Remember to:
Plant at least 18 shade trees per hectare.
Plant many different varieties of trees to avoid diseases. Prune the trees to maintain a good level of shade.
A certified farm maintains a good level of shade.
Wildlife protection
A certified farm is a safe place for wild animals. Hunting of wild animals is prohibited.
No
3
Only if you have a license, you are allowed to hunt non-endangered animals during the Open Season (:Dec 2nd - July 31st). Do not hunt endangered species at any time. Endangered species commonly found on cocoa farms include:
Akatia, Efoo, Asibe, Ebene, Boapia, Aposo, Aprenkensima, Opra, Aprawa, Aprawabene, Osono and Mampam (local Twi names).
Do not hunt any wildlife during the Closed Season (:Aug 1st - Dec 1st).
Ecosystem conservation
Establish a no-spray zone where you will not spray anymore.
No-spray zone
Your farm
Create and maintain vegetative barriers all along the streams.
Plant indigenous trees and do not plant any more cocoa in the no-spray zones.
Train the workers not to spray in these areas
In the long term;
If you spray your cocoa trees next to a stream
You will contaminate the water that people and animals will drink.
A certified farm protects streams and forests.
Stream
No-spray zone
No
4
Stream No-spray zone
Integrated Pest Management
Remove diseased branches Remove chupons
Prune branches where density is high
Maintenance pruning
For better ventilation and sanitation,
Spacing
Where density of cocoa trees is low,
plant improved planting materials of cocoa.
Where density is too high, cut down some cocoa trees.
To ensure that each cocoa tree receives sufficient nutrients,
Sanitation harvesting
Remove black pods, moss, mistletoe and epiphyte
Bury the black pods that were removed
To eliminate sources of diseases in your farm
Respect the recommended density of 3m X 3m
A certified farm keeps its crops healthy.
Waste management and
How to make compost
Plastic waste and empty chemical containers:
A certified farm is clean and free of wastes
Organic wastes and cocoa husks : Compost them to obtain organic fertilizer.
No
6
Separate healthy pods and diseased pods. Bury the husks of the diseased pods.
Cover the cocoa husks with plastic or banana leaves. Turn it once every 2 weeks.
Continue 4-6 months until it becomes black, completely decomposed and odorless.
Apply it above the entire root zone of the cocoa trees.
Your Group Administrator will store them properly, and look for suppliers, public or private agencies (such as EPA) that can recycle, incinerate or dispose these containers safely. Rinse the containers three times, puncture them and
send them to your Group Administrator.
Wastewater management
Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and palm kernels
A certified farm does not discharge wastewater into the environment.
Kitchen wastewater
Wastewater from washing application equipment:
Do not pour the wastewater in water sources
Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and charcoal
Dig the hole away from water sources Pour the
wastewater in the hole
Dig a whole and cover it with concrete with a pipe that leads the wastewater into the hole.
Bathroom wastewater
Soil conservation
A certified farm will keep its soil in good condition.
Excessive use of herbicide causes:
Soil erosion
Loss of fertility of the soil Contamination of
the environment and water
You need to maintain a ground cover by leaving leaves from cocoa trees and shade trees on the ground.
Keeps the soil moisturized Fertilizes the soil
Prevents weeds from growing
Ground cover:
Storage of chemicals
A certified farm is a safe place for everyone. If you store your chemicals in your house,
your workers or your family may take them.
No
9
Keep your chemicals in a safe place
Warning sign Example of a storage of a small farmer:
Keep it locked
Shelves
covered with plastic
Do not keep this storage in your house.
Chemicals that contain Paraquat and Atrazine are prohibited. Do not store them or use them.
Following products contain Paraquat or Atrazine.
Protective equipment
A certified farm protects the health of people.
Chemical sprayers should be protected.
Gloves
Boots Mask with chemical filter
Raincoat or overall Hat
Goggles
After spraying, the sprayer should bath and wash the protective clothing before going home
Put up a red flag at the entrance of the farm so that other people will not come near
No
10
Social conditions of workers
A certified farm treats workers fairly. A child or a young worker should not:
touch a chemical product work at heights carry loads that are
too heavy
Children should go to school during weekdays.
Outside the school hours, children and young workers can carry light loads.
children can help with simple activities without
using sharp tools
