Improving cocoa production through farmer involvement in demonstration trials of potentially superior and pest/disease resistant genotypes and integrated management practices

The opening workshop for the project was held in July 2007 and was attended by staff from Dinas Perkebunan, University of Hasanuddin and Mars Inc., farmer leaders and the project partners. The meeting provided an opportunity for presentations and group discussions addressing the key problems faced by cocoa smallholders. Visits made to farmer groups in South, South-East and West Sulawesi provinces during the year allowed project staff to explain the process of selecting and testing clones and its potential value in farm rehabilitation to farmers. Since many farmers wish to rehabilitate parts of their farms from seedling cocoa, trials were planned (under Objective 1) as part of a rehabilitation process on land cleared of unproductive trees by farmers. Six trials testing twelve clones in four replicate blocks have been established in the three provinces in the districts of Pinrang, North Luwu (Bone-bone), Polmas, North Kolaka and Kolaka (Lambandia, including one trial established by sidegrafting onto mature trees). One further trial is planned. Clones for testing were top-grafted onto rootstock seedlings in 2007 and, in early 2008, planted in trials at sites selected with the guidance of project staff from Mars Inc. Clones selected for the trials include genotypes with promising high-yielding or resistance characteristics identified by Mars Inc., a previous ACIAR project and local farmers. Two clones will be common to all the trials and act as standards. The project has initiated the establishment of a field facility for cocoa research in Soppeng, South Sulawesi on 5 hectares provided for field research by Dinas Perkebunan Selatan. This will form part of a cooperative effort under the Cocoa Sustainability Partnership (CSP), a forum of private and government agencies concerned with cocoa research and development in Sulawesi. A nursery and well with a pump have been constructed. The well will provide only some of the water needed for the ACIAR project trials. A further well will be required to provide sufficient water for the two trials planned at the site (Objective 2): to test hybrid progeny and selected clones against pests and diseases. Staff management, infra-structure requirements and organisational matters for the field centre were discussed in detail and responsibilities allocated. Hybrid crosses for the Soppeng trial site have already been made and seeds of some of these crosses produced. Also, trial sites have been marked out and temporary shade planted. But the establishment of the hybrid testing trial has been delayed by the higher-than-expected costs for preparing the site for planting. Approximately fifty genotypes for the clone testing trial at the Soppeng site have been grafted onto rootstock seedlings. A project staff member has commenced a PhD study at Gadjah Mada University (also part of Objective 2). The study will focus on forms of resistance in cocoa pods to cocoa pod borer. Meetings with farmer groups and extension officers established some priorities for research on options for pest/disease management (Objective 3). Feedback indicated that the major pest/disease concerns of farmers were Phytophthora pod rot and vascular-streak dieback. Demonstrations of cultural management methods (pruning, sanitation and fertiliser application) and phosphonate application were conducted in South-East Sulawesi. The phosphonate, to be tested against Phytophthora palmivora, is applied using slow-release implants placed in the stem and major branches. Further trials are planned for the coming year. In visits to farmer groups made by ICCRI, BRIEC and Australian project staff, feedback sessions were conducted in conjunction with practical training demonstrations. The basic design of a proposed cocoa management handbook relevant to Sulawesi farmers was discussed. However, to avoid confusing or conflicting advice it was decided that such educational material should be prepared in collaboration with other members of the CSP. The aims and methodology of a socio-economic study (for Objective 4) were discussed and farmer surveys were commenced in West and South Sulawesi. This study will be continued with surveys conducted at six monthly intervals in three provinces.