COMMUNICATIONS PRA I Success Stories Cacao VRAE
With the support of an Italian buyer, Cacao VRAE invests US$ 300,000 in infrastructure for cacao
PRA technicians support fresh cacao post-harvesting and collection.
CacaoVRAE’s shareholders are VRAE cacao growers, with whom the PRA has been working since 2003. As only 30% of the cacao produced in the VRAE had good quality, the PRA contributed to improving suppliers’ post-harvesting practices. However, initially the results were not satisfactory, since the collectors’ practice of buying in lot, in addition to the producer’s economic needs, resulted in sales before adequate fermentation had been attained.
Fermentation boxes for fresh cacao or cacao slime
In 2006, with PRA technical assistance, suppliers started collecting fresh cacao or cacao slime and centralizing post-harvesting, i.e., large-scale fermentation and drying to get a standardized product in line with the demands of Italian buyer ICAMP SPA. Since the quality of the first three cargoes (70 tons) was satisfactory, ICAMP SPA decided to support Cacao VRAE’s investment in infrastructure for the centralized treatment of grain cacao, and placed an order for 1,000 tons produced under the new standard. ICAM has invested US$ 26,968 in 2006 and US$ 279,635 in the current year (a total of US$ 306,603). The money was used to build 5 collection centers, made up of a warehouse, a computerized information system, a parking lot for motorcycles, a 4-ton truck, a fermenting box module, and a drying center
In 2005 the average price paid by ICAM was US$ 1,646/ton (with additional fermentation). In 2006–II the average price paid was US$ 2,167.9/ton, with centralized fermentation and standardized quality. In the 2007 campaign, five PRA technicians supported the centralized collection of fresh cacao and cacao slime and the post-harvesting process.
In 2005 the average price paid by ICAM was US$ 1,646/ton (with additional fermentation). In 2006–II the average price paid was US$ 2,167.9/ton, with centralized fermentation and standardized quality. In the 2007 campaign, five PRA technicians supported the centralized collection of fresh cacao and cacao slime and the post-harvesting process.