Shade Grown Cocoa

2010-03-20

Abraham Mulongo (Project Director) took a few British friends on a field visit to Buwologoma. The area provides an excellent climate and fertile soils for the small cocoa plantations. However, in the past decade many of the areas' large hardwoods have been cut in order to cover children's educational expenses and medical costs.

The loss of trees seemed like a small price to pay at the time, but now many farmers are experiencing lower cocoa yields and higher crop susceptibility to disease. According to NAADS (Uganda National Agriculture Advisory Services), such problems are due to the intense equatorial sun's direct light on the cocoa shrubs. The hardwood tree cover had previously prevented such intense rays, allowing dappled light to reach the plant.

The Mvule Project is working directly with these farmers to create a more sustainable future for their cocoa and the business that is their livelihood. Many farmers are interspersing the mvule through their plantations and should experience positive results in the next decade.