Partnership to Strengthen Cacao Production

Fabretto is proud to partner with Contour Lines and our impact partner Ak’ Tenamit to promote the production of cacao (or cocoa) in communities in the Rio Dulce region of Guatemala.

Cacao is an important crop in Guatemala, with an estimated 250,000 producers cultivating cacao. Guatemala has steadily increased exports of cacao over the last decade. Additionally, many families have cacao plants on their properties. However, with limited technical knowledge, many communities are not yet taking advantage of the potential to produce cacao.

In the communities where our partner Ak’ Tenamit works, many students have cacao plants on their family farms. Ak’ Tenamit’s campus in the Rio Dulce region also has a plot of cacao. To reactivate this production, experts from the organization Contour Lines invited Ak’ Tenamit teachers and students to an intensive, hands-on workshop. They had the chance to visit a successful cacao production plot at Frutas del Mundo and learned about post-production as well (when the cacao is turned into chocolate!)

Results:

• 80 cacao trees restored
• About .75 acres of land ready for planting
• 27 students trained
• 14 Contour Lines staff members participated in training

A Tour in Photos

In these photos, published by Contour Lines originally on the organization’s Facebook page, you can see how Ak’ Tenamit students pruned the cacao trees and prepared the plot for production:

Step 1: Meeting the Teachers

Step 2: Removing low branches

Step 3: Pruning high branches

Step 4: Removing excess shade

Step 5: Fertilization

Next Steps

Fabretto is proud to support this initiative and hopes to grow efforts to train youth and families in cacao production, alongside Contour Lines and Ak’ Tenamit in the future.

Learn more about Contour Lines and their incredible work with reforestation in Guatemala on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/contourlinescorp