Strengthen capabilities in cocoa production

By: José Garth Medina

Under the programme "Contribution to regional regional regional processes and their impact on the agricultural sector Autonomous Region of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast", funded by Catolic Relief Service (CRS), young producers and producers from 30 Communities of Waslala are trained in the management and promotion of cocoa cultivation.

Five themes were developed on planting framework, genetic improvement and reproduction of elite material in cocoa farms, soil fertility and cocoa cultivation, integrated cocoa farming management and cocoa quality control, which strengthen community economies and create human capacities to improve cocoa production in rural Waslala areas.

The young children of producers developed productive technical skills for rural farms engaged in the promotion of cocoa under shade as an economic alternative to families of small and medium-sized producers engaged in cocoa cultivation.   

The Intercultural Community Model is strengthened in harmony with the peoples

URACCAN Vice-Chancellor Las Minas, Dr. Leonor Ruiz, said, that the university accompanies small and medium-sized producers in the municipality of Waslala, "this is an example of the role that the university plays in its social responsibility to train men and women. The university is the vehicle for the regional regional processes to be strengthened and from our higher education house, to contribute to these processes and to generate impacts on the agricultural sector in the Northern Caribbean Region of the country", highlighted the vice-chancellor.

The Rosidani Molina Arguello master's degree, coordinator of the Waslala extension, described that the municipality is being contributed to the creation of capacities so that young people can assume the future of cocoa culture.

"Community families are dedicated to producing cocoa and this activity is economically important in improving cocoa life and the university from its educational model contributes to the accompaniment of these processes.

Organizations and agencies contributing to cocoa development in the North Caribbean consider URACCAN to have a prominent roll in training for human talent in Nicaragua's Caribbean.

"We trust the university and have made our efforts to be able to train young peasant men and women with the participation of new strategic allies such as the Association for Diversification and Community Agricultural Development (ADDAC) in Waslala, the Intercultural Community Model is our ally in education for our communities as it offers education options at the community rural level" Santos Palmas said, the official Progress Caribbean Catolic Relief Service program. 

New paths in cocoa productivity

Jorvin Luquez student of the course "Promoting cocoa-sustainable culture" said that with the accompaniment of the university new skills are being created.

"As young people we are going to do what our parents were unable to do and demonstrate that, with the training and knowledge of experience lived in our plots, productive cocoa systems can be improved in our communities and therefore on our farm," the student said.

Rosa Ruiz, student of the course said that they are poor families and that they depend on cocoa cultivation.

"We are poor families and we live in cocoa cultivation, that is why we have chosen to come and study at this university since we want to be particide of the dialogues to strengthen our traditional experiences and knowledge, the practice lived of us as community and the knowledge of those who form makes us a whole and we can get ahead", said Ruiz.

URACCAN in community accompaniment

Master Sergio Rodríguez, Coordinator of External Cooperation of URACCAN Las Minas, said that this course is held in articulation with strategic alliances with CRS.

"This course was managed with Catolic Relief Service (CRS) to develop in three municipalities in the Northern Caribbean Region (Siuna, Waslala and Rosita), indicating that the university is contributing to the formation of 90 children of young producers who will be responsible for fostering cocoa-culture with a new vision and understanding of recreating sustainable and consistent productive systems with Mother Earth" Ended.