- Cacao producer Ángel García is transforming his cocoa farm, thanks to the practices learned in the MOCCA training program.
In the canton of Cuayagualo, in the municipality of Izalco, is Ángel García’s cocoa plot. Since he took the reins of this fertile land in 2019, his story has become a tale of transformation and prosperity, shaped by the collaboration of the MOCCA program and his tireless dedication.
Ángel, a man with a frank gaze and hands hardened by working on the land, did not always see an opportunity in cocoa. When he arrived at the farm, the cocoa was already there, but his lack of knowledge about its management and potential kept him oblivious to the possibilities that this fruit offered, so he did not even harvest it. It was only in 2020, with the arrival of MOCCA technicians, that Ángel began to envision a different future for the 600 trees he had.
With the MOCCA program as an ally, Ángel immersed himself in a world of constant learning. From pruning the cacao and managing the companion trees, each technique learned became a new step towards the transformation of his plot. He put grafting into practice on 200 trees, to have more productive plants and strengthened resistance to the diseases that threatened his harvest.
MOCCA is a 7-year initiative funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Food for Progress Program, which seeks to improve agricultural productivity and expand trade in agricultural products. The MOCCA project is being executed by a consortium led by TechnoServe. Lutheran World Relief leads the cocoa activities.
Generating better income from cacao
“Before, I had no income from cacao because I did not use this fruit, but now, thanks to the knowledge of crop management that I learned at MOCCA, I have a monthly income of approximately 280 dollars,” explained the satisfied producer.
Both Angel and his wife now see cocoa as an important and promising source of income. The money from sales has become an essential part of the family basket and, having seen that good management increases productivity, they are investing part of the income in the purchase of inputs such as fertilizers.
“I do the work on the farm and my wife is the one in charge of processing the cocoa beans. We are both aware that the income is for the family and she is the one who manages it, takes care of the purchases and what is needed on the farm. Working together is what has allowed us to get ahead,” says Ángel García.
