Online library | Sustainable Agriculture Training
1
Productivity
No
A certified farm does not deforest to produce more cocoa.
No more cutting down of trees
or burning of forest to create
new cocoa farms
Let us increase the productivity,
and generate more income from
the existing farms,
To increase productivity, let us implement Good Agricultural Practices on the farms.
Proper weed management
Pruning
Combining organic and inorganic fertilizers
Pest and disease control
Good shade management
Rehabilitation and replanting of old
unproductive trees
Use of improved materials for planting
Record keeping
Timely harvesting
Version: 2012
2
Shade trees
No
A certified farm maintains a good level of shade.
Without shade trees.
Your cocoa trees
become dry.
Your soil becomes hard
and poor.
There are more erosion
problems.
Your productivity will
start to decrease after
a few years.
With shade trees.
Your cocoa trees are
protected from the sun.
Shade trees contribute
organic matter to the soil.
Shade trees maintain
moisture in the soil.
Shade trees control
erosion.
Remember to:
Plant at least 18 shade trees per hectare.
Plant many different varieties of trees to avoid diseases.
Prune the trees to maintain a good level of shade.
Version: 2012
No
3
Wildlife protection
A certified farm is a safe place for wild animals.
Hunting of wild animals is prohibited.
Do not hunt endangered species at any
time. Endangered species commonly
found on cocoa farms include:
Akatia, Efoo, Asibe, Ebene, Boapia,
Aposo, Aprenkensima, Opra, Aprawa,
Aprawabene, Osono and Mampam
(local Twi names).
Do not hunt any wildlife during the
Closed Season (:Aug 1st - Dec 1st).
Only if you have a license, you are allowed
to hunt non-endangered animals during
the Open Season (:Dec 2nd - July 31st).
Your children and
grandchildren should
be able to see and
appreciate the wild
animals on your farm.
Version: 2012
No
4
Ecosystem conservation
A certified farm protects streams and forests.
If you spray your cocoa trees
next to a stream
You will contaminate the water
that people and animals will
drink.
Establish a no-spray zone
where you will not spray
anymore.
Your farm
Stream
No-spray zone
No-spray zone
Stream
No-spray zone
Indicate no-spray zones
with tape
Train the workers not to
spray in these areas
In the long term;
Create and maintain vegetative barriers all along the streams.
Plant indigenous trees and do not plant any more cocoa in the no-spray zones.
Version: 2012
No
5
Integrated Pest Management
A certified farm keeps its crops healthy.
Maintenance pruning
For better ventilation and sanitation,
Remove diseased branches
Remove chupons
Prune branches where density
is high
Sanitation harvesting
To eliminate sources of diseases
in your farm
Remove black pods, moss,
mistletoe and epiphyte
Bury the black pods that
were removed
Spacing
To ensure that each cocoa tree receives
sufficient nutrients,
Respect the recommended density of
3m X 3m
Where density of cocoa trees is low,
plant improved planting materials of cocoa.
Where density is too high, cut down
some cocoa trees.
Version: 2012
No
6
Waste management and
How to make compost
A certified farm is clean and free of wastes
Organic wastes and cocoa husks : Compost them to obtain organic fertilizer.
Separate healthy pods and diseased pods.
Bury the husks of the diseased pods.
Cover the cocoa husks with plastic or
banana leaves. Turn it once every 2 weeks.
Apply it above the entire root zone
of the cocoa trees.
Continue 4-6 months until it becomes black,
completely decomposed and odorless.
Plastic waste and empty chemical containers:
Do not burn chemical containers or leave them on the farm.
Rinse the containers three times, puncture them and
send them to your Group Administrator.
Your Group Administrator will store them properly, and
look for suppliers, public or private agencies (such as EPA)
that can recycle, incinerate or dispose these containers safely.
Version: 2012
No
7
Wastewater management
A certified farm does not discharge wastewater into the environment.
Kitchen wastewater
Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and
palm kernels
Bathroom wastewater
Dig a whole and cover it with concrete
with a pipe that leads the wastewater
into the hole.
Wastewater from washing application equipment:
Do not pour
the wastewater
in water sources
Dig a hole and
fill it with sand,
gravel and
charcoal
Pour the
wastewater in
the hole
Dig the hole
away from
water sources
Version: 2012
8
Soil conservation
No
A certified farm will keep its soil in good condition.
Excessive use of herbicide causes:
Soil erosion
Loss of fertility of the soil
Contamination of
the environment and water
You need to maintain a ground cover by leaving leaves
from cocoa trees and shade trees on the ground.
Ground cover:
Version: 2012
Keeps the soil moisturized
Fertilizes the soil
Prevents weeds from growing
No
9
Storage of chemicals
A certified farm is a safe place for everyone.
If you store your chemicals in your house,
your workers or your family may take them.
Chemicals that contain Paraquat and Atrazine
are prohibited. Do not store them or use them.
Following products contain
Paraquat or Atrazine.
Gramoquat
Gramosharp Super
Greenquat
Gramozone Kaltrazine
Maltrazine
Gramofast
Gramoquick Sun Atrazine
Cotrazine
Kamazone
Baltrazine
Atrazina 500c
Keep your chemicals in a safe place
Example of a
storage of a
small farmer:
Do not keep
this storage
in your house.
Warning sign
Keep it locked
Shelves
covered with
plastic
Version: 2012
No
10
Protective equipment
A certified farm protects the health of people.
Chemical sprayers should be protected.
Wear:
Hat
Goggles
Mask with
chemical filter
Gloves
Raincoat or overall
Boots
After spraying, the sprayer should bath
and wash the protective clothing before
going home
Version: 2012
Put up a red flag at the entrance of the
farm so that other people will not
come near
No
11
Social conditions of workers
A certified farm treats workers fairly.
A child or a young worker should not:
touch a chemical product
work at heights
carry loads that are
too heavy
Children should go to school during weekdays.
Outside the school hours,
children and young workers
can carry light loads.
Outside the
school hours,
children can
help with simple
activities without
using sharp tools
Version: 2012
Productivity
No
A certified farm does not deforest to produce more cocoa.
No more cutting down of trees
or burning of forest to create
new cocoa farms
Let us increase the productivity,
and generate more income from
the existing farms,
To increase productivity, let us implement Good Agricultural Practices on the farms.
Proper weed management
Pruning
Combining organic and inorganic fertilizers
Pest and disease control
Good shade management
Rehabilitation and replanting of old
unproductive trees
Use of improved materials for planting
Record keeping
Timely harvesting
Version: 2012
2
Shade trees
No
A certified farm maintains a good level of shade.
Without shade trees.
Your cocoa trees
become dry.
Your soil becomes hard
and poor.
There are more erosion
problems.
Your productivity will
start to decrease after
a few years.
With shade trees.
Your cocoa trees are
protected from the sun.
Shade trees contribute
organic matter to the soil.
Shade trees maintain
moisture in the soil.
Shade trees control
erosion.
Remember to:
Plant at least 18 shade trees per hectare.
Plant many different varieties of trees to avoid diseases.
Prune the trees to maintain a good level of shade.
Version: 2012
No
3
Wildlife protection
A certified farm is a safe place for wild animals.
Hunting of wild animals is prohibited.
Do not hunt endangered species at any
time. Endangered species commonly
found on cocoa farms include:
Akatia, Efoo, Asibe, Ebene, Boapia,
Aposo, Aprenkensima, Opra, Aprawa,
Aprawabene, Osono and Mampam
(local Twi names).
Do not hunt any wildlife during the
Closed Season (:Aug 1st - Dec 1st).
Only if you have a license, you are allowed
to hunt non-endangered animals during
the Open Season (:Dec 2nd - July 31st).
Your children and
grandchildren should
be able to see and
appreciate the wild
animals on your farm.
Version: 2012
No
4
Ecosystem conservation
A certified farm protects streams and forests.
If you spray your cocoa trees
next to a stream
You will contaminate the water
that people and animals will
drink.
Establish a no-spray zone
where you will not spray
anymore.
Your farm
Stream
No-spray zone
No-spray zone
Stream
No-spray zone
Indicate no-spray zones
with tape
Train the workers not to
spray in these areas
In the long term;
Create and maintain vegetative barriers all along the streams.
Plant indigenous trees and do not plant any more cocoa in the no-spray zones.
Version: 2012
No
5
Integrated Pest Management
A certified farm keeps its crops healthy.
Maintenance pruning
For better ventilation and sanitation,
Remove diseased branches
Remove chupons
Prune branches where density
is high
Sanitation harvesting
To eliminate sources of diseases
in your farm
Remove black pods, moss,
mistletoe and epiphyte
Bury the black pods that
were removed
Spacing
To ensure that each cocoa tree receives
sufficient nutrients,
Respect the recommended density of
3m X 3m
Where density of cocoa trees is low,
plant improved planting materials of cocoa.
Where density is too high, cut down
some cocoa trees.
Version: 2012
No
6
Waste management and
How to make compost
A certified farm is clean and free of wastes
Organic wastes and cocoa husks : Compost them to obtain organic fertilizer.
Separate healthy pods and diseased pods.
Bury the husks of the diseased pods.
Cover the cocoa husks with plastic or
banana leaves. Turn it once every 2 weeks.
Apply it above the entire root zone
of the cocoa trees.
Continue 4-6 months until it becomes black,
completely decomposed and odorless.
Plastic waste and empty chemical containers:
Do not burn chemical containers or leave them on the farm.
Rinse the containers three times, puncture them and
send them to your Group Administrator.
Your Group Administrator will store them properly, and
look for suppliers, public or private agencies (such as EPA)
that can recycle, incinerate or dispose these containers safely.
Version: 2012
No
7
Wastewater management
A certified farm does not discharge wastewater into the environment.
Kitchen wastewater
Dig a hole and fill it with sand, gravel and
palm kernels
Bathroom wastewater
Dig a whole and cover it with concrete
with a pipe that leads the wastewater
into the hole.
Wastewater from washing application equipment:
Do not pour
the wastewater
in water sources
Dig a hole and
fill it with sand,
gravel and
charcoal
Pour the
wastewater in
the hole
Dig the hole
away from
water sources
Version: 2012
8
Soil conservation
No
A certified farm will keep its soil in good condition.
Excessive use of herbicide causes:
Soil erosion
Loss of fertility of the soil
Contamination of
the environment and water
You need to maintain a ground cover by leaving leaves
from cocoa trees and shade trees on the ground.
Ground cover:
Version: 2012
Keeps the soil moisturized
Fertilizes the soil
Prevents weeds from growing
No
9
Storage of chemicals
A certified farm is a safe place for everyone.
If you store your chemicals in your house,
your workers or your family may take them.
Chemicals that contain Paraquat and Atrazine
are prohibited. Do not store them or use them.
Following products contain
Paraquat or Atrazine.
Gramoquat
Gramosharp Super
Greenquat
Gramozone Kaltrazine
Maltrazine
Gramofast
Gramoquick Sun Atrazine
Cotrazine
Kamazone
Baltrazine
Atrazina 500c
Keep your chemicals in a safe place
Example of a
storage of a
small farmer:
Do not keep
this storage
in your house.
Warning sign
Keep it locked
Shelves
covered with
plastic
Version: 2012
No
10
Protective equipment
A certified farm protects the health of people.
Chemical sprayers should be protected.
Wear:
Hat
Goggles
Mask with
chemical filter
Gloves
Raincoat or overall
Boots
After spraying, the sprayer should bath
and wash the protective clothing before
going home
Version: 2012
Put up a red flag at the entrance of the
farm so that other people will not
come near
No
11
Social conditions of workers
A certified farm treats workers fairly.
A child or a young worker should not:
touch a chemical product
work at heights
carry loads that are
too heavy
Children should go to school during weekdays.
Outside the school hours,
children and young workers
can carry light loads.
Outside the
school hours,
children can
help with simple
activities without
using sharp tools
Version: 2012