Proyecto “Cacao para la Paz”

The initiative was led by the Fondo Nacional del Cacao, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as part of the "Cacao para la Paz" project. The Arhuacos association, ASOARAHUACOS, consists of 120 members who are interested in participating in the project. The association has a total of 3135.5 hectares of land, with 233.5 hectares dedicated to cacao production. The majority of the land is located in the department of Magdalena, with 78% of the members residing in this department. The population of the Arhuacos association is predominantly male, with only 19% of the land owned by women. The majority of the members are between 40 and 60 years old, with 50% of the population under the age of 40. This demographic may facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge to younger members. The level of education among the members is relatively low, with 34 members not having attended school and 50% having only completed primary education. The majority of the members live on the farm, with 87% residing on the land. However, 13% of the members do not live on the farm but still work on it. The members of the association dedicate between 8 and 15 days per month to cacao production, with 90 members working outside of the farm for part of the month. The majority of the members work on the farm for 2 weeks per month, with only 30 members working full-time on the farm. The area of the farm varies greatly, ranging from 1 to 202 hectares, with the most common area being 10 hectares per member. However, the area dedicated to cacao production is typically 1 hectare per member. The production of cacao is relatively low, with an average of 550 kg per hectare per year. The majority of the cacao trees are over 10 years old, with 62% of the trees being older than 10 years. This indicates a need for renewal and improvement of the cacao production. New plantings are being made, with the majority being hybrid trees. However, only two members have planted clones. The density of planting varies, with 50% of the members planting at a density of 3.5x3.5, resulting in approximately 800 trees per hectare. The remaining members plant at different densities, resulting in fewer trees per hectare. Other crops grown by the members include plátano, mangle, yuca, pastos, and forestale.