Jamaica Cocoa Farmers’ Association holds pest control workshop in Jamaica to train its farmers as part of the FO4ACP Programme

Kingston, Jamaica - In an effort to strengthen the resilience of local cocoa farmers, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Procasur Corporation supported the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers’ Association in organizing a comprehensive pest control, climate resilience training programme in Jamaica.

Building knowledge for sustainable cocoa farming

The training sessions were designed to provide cocoa farmers with essential tools to manage pest-related problems threatening their crops. This initiative is part of a broader effort to support sustainable farming practices, climate resilience and compliance with international regulations such as the EUDR, which seeks to ensure that cocoa products do not come from land recently deforested or contribute to forest degradation.

President of the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers’ Association of Jamaica, Clayton Williams, commended FAO's initiative to impart knowledge and technical competence to farmers for growing a disease-ridden industry.

“This workshop will improve their knowledge on timely elimination of diseases or else they can lose up to 80 percent of the crop,” he said.

FAO consultant, Claro Bagio, stressed the importance of the training, stating that farmers who need to use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to be effective against pests, diseases such as Phytophthora (black corn), which attacks cocoa roots, leaves, stems, fruits and branches, and climate change.

“Trees need to be pruned to a maximum of 3.6 meters and black spotted pods removed before trees become infected. A properly pruned tree allows sunlight to penetrate. This (sunlight) is great medicine for plants. When the tree is pruned, more pods will grow on the trunk. In this way, the harmful effects of frost pod disease can be minimized,” Bagio said.

Another central element of the workshop focused on climate change adaptation. Farmers were trained on how to make informed decisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate. These strategies are crucial as Jamaica continues to suffer from the effects of global warming, such as rising temperatures and erratic rainfall.

Ensuring compliance with international regulations

In addition to pest control and climate resilience, the workshop provided in-depth training on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a critical framework for farmers exporting to European markets. By understanding and adhering to the EUDR, Jamaican cocoa farmers can maintain access to these vital international markets while supporting environmental preservation.

“We are facing the Frosty Pod fungus disease, so we are very happy to have this consultant intervention here today, as knowledge is very important to make our investment profitable,” explained association board member Michael Leckie, who noted that expert advice is necessary to keep the industry afloat.

A significant aspect of the workshop was its scope. In total, 90 cocoa farmers from the three villages were trained, with each group receiving specific training on specific aspects of pest management and environmental sustainability. In addition, between 20 and 30 stakeholders participated in EUDR-related sessions, further amplifying the workshop's impact on the Jamaican cocoa farming community.

About the FO4ACP Programme

This initiative is part of the Farmers' Organizations for Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific (FO4ACP) program, financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Union in support of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).  It aims to increase incomes and improve the livelihoods, food, nutrition security, and safety of organized smallholder and family farmers in African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries by strengthening regional, national, and local farmers' organizations.