Project assistance completion report -- accelerated cocoa production project no. 505-0023

Hummingbird Hershey Limited (HHL), the Hershey Foods Corporation's farm near Belmopan, Belize, collaborated on the project, as did several PVO's. Farmer and extensionist training targets were met and in some cases exceeded, a methodology was developed for accelerating cocoa production under Belizean conditions, and three major technical publications were prepared. Only 415 of a targeted 600 acres of cocoa were planted, however, partly because of fire damage to cocoa trees from slash and burn cropping. In Ringtail Village, the shortfall was also caused by an unrealistic project design, which expected participating farmers (in addition to being full-time HHL employees) to plant 10 acres of cocoa plus subsistence crops, build a family residence, and assist with community development activities. In the Valley of Peace, cocoa development was constrained by poor soil quality and by tensions between Belizeans and Salvadoran refugees. The lack of a clear public policy on refugees/aliens, compounded by divided leadership in the community, should have disqualified the Valley of Peace from participating in the project. The project also assisted in the formation and start-up funding of the Toledo Cocoa Growers Assocation, and - with contributions from HHL - initiated several community activities which helped develop Ringtail Village into a dynamic, self-reliant agricultural community: economic activities for women; construction of roads and water supply structures; development of a credit union. Significant advantages resulted from combining HHL's resources with public and PVO efforts. HHL's corporate interests in cocoa development were compatible with the government's and the implementing PVO's were able to enhance the resources of both. HHL contributed the use of its facilities, equipment, and personnel. The dynamic leadership of the HHL farm manager in Ringtail Village fostered a working camaraderie that immediately facilitated cooperation and mutual confidence. The creativity allowed by the OPG mechanism was also responsible for several successful interorganizational linkages that expanded the benefits and assured project sustainability. Several lessons were learned. (1) Seasonal training with an emphasis on practical field demonstrations is better for farmers, while intensive short courses combining cocoa technology and extension methods is most effective for extensionists. (2) The incompatibility of permanent tree crops and annual slash and burn systems dictates that fire-free areas be established. (3) The economic prospects for small-scale commercial cocoa production are excellent, but more study is needed in two areas - short-term cash crops (while cocoa trees are being established) and multipurpose intercrops (for long-term diversification).