Nicaraguan Cocoa Trade Essay Example for Free

Nicaraguan burnt umber Trade EssayCocoa has been an important instigate of Mesoamerican life for more than a thousand grades. It began as a sacred, ceremonial food until the find of the Americas by the Europeans. From that time to today deep brown has been a booming commodity locally and more importantly, in the worldwide marketplace. (Somarriba, 2009) However, Nicaragua struggles to capture a big portion of the international market, although cocoa from that region is generally judge as very high timbre. In the late 1970s farmers struggled with both pasture disease and begin market prices. The outcome was a massive replacement by farmers from cocoa to bananas, which were believed to be more profitable. The put was a decrease in cocoa bean production, which has remained relatively low until recently. Today cocoa is frequently cultivated by indigenous peoples and peasant farmers. Many Mesoamerican countries use the cocoa farms as a key land use effort to reducing poverty . (Somarriba, 2009) However, Nicaragua is beginning to turn their counsel on conk out production methods, and more land specifically designated to the production of cocoa.Experts have estimated that only 6400 hectargons argon farmed each category in the cultivation of cocoa. That number roughly represents about one thousand cubic tons per year in cocoa production. (Navarrete, 2005) In addition to this, most farmers be small scale generational farmers, passport along traditions through the years. However, it has also been estimated that in comparison to the 6400 hect bes that are farmed each year, a possible 350,000 hectares are suitable for cocoa production. (Navarretes, 2005)This exciting prospect is further fueled by the high demand for quality cocoa by international buyers such as Ger many a(prenominal) a(prenominal), The Netherlands, and the USA. (Dand, 2009) Although Nicaraguan cocoa is known for its very lovable characteristics and therefore good market prices, the area struggles with low production. The two biggest contributors to such minimal output are both poor agricultural management and technology, and plant-diseases. (Navarretes, 2005) Cultivating cocoa is a relatively abstemious groom. Many farmers standardized the lack of costly equipment or chemicals that would eat up profits. However, cocoa is very labor intensive.One of the many problems facing Nicaraguan farmers is learning how to deal with these issues on a steady basis to increase crop production. Firstly, blur preparation and plot placement is important. Cocoa needs well drained soil and messiness of water, humidness and sunshine. Often the small considerations like weeding and cutting down excessive shade trees that steal soil nutrients and sunlight are neglected and cause poor crops, although they are fairly easy problems to amends. . (Navarretes, 2005)Another easy remedy that is often overlooked is that of dead or diseased pod and limb removal.Neglecting such seemingly h onest tasks have had disastrous effects on whole cocoa crops. The diseased or dead pods and limbs promptly become diseased and spread rapidly throughout the crop. Adding to these mounting problems, farmers try to save crops with chemicals, but pervert and poor techniques result in killing the crops anyway. One of the most deadly diseases that cocoa farms are persuadable to is the Monilia virus. This devastating virus acts like a cancer and is very easily spread. In the late 1980s the Monilia virus was responsible for crop failures in most of Mesoamerica. (Lok, p.251) Management practices were introduced to attend educate farmers on easy methods to save crops. These included removing infected fruit, pruning and weed control. One of the biggest problems remaining today that stands as a great hindrance to the desired cocoa production is simply that many of these farmers are ill-educated on husbandry techniques, and dont know how to identify or resolve any of these fairly simple pr oblems. However, nongovernmental organizations and extensionist groups have tried to come in and remedy the problems. Extensionists focused mainly on horticulture practices and taught farmers how to identify and resolve problems.Also, they spent time educating farmers on methods for stimulating production, site choices and record keeping. Several problems were go about in all of these areas. First of all, one method which involves opening up the crown of the tree for eight-day term production must be carefully balanced by how much water is unspoiled the tree, humidity being an important factor in healthy cocoa trees. In one field after education the farmer on proper techniques, the farmer didnt relate the balance of humidity and sunshine, and lost the entire crop to dehydration.This proved to encourage distrust in the farmers of the extensionists who were there to help atomic number 82 to the general consensus by the farmers that they should continue to stick to their own meth ods. (Lok, p. 255) As one farmer expressed his feelings on the matter, I was told to im check my plot here, because it was the best place according to the extensionists, but I regret having through with(p) so. Next time I will establish my plot far from the river on the slope. This will empower me less work, while still producing an acceptable amount of cocoa. (Lok, p. 255)In addition to differences with training techniques, resistance by farmers was also had in relaying the importance of cutting down other trees that inhibit good cocoa crop production. Part of the problem lies in the simple fact that farmers use many of the trees for other necessary uses. For example, many of the shade trees are used for firewood and fruit and are seen by the farmers as being indispensable. Moreover, when trying to establish a basis for recording yield production, extensionists found that farmers would hesitate to give the correct amount.Farmers insecure reenforcement circumstances, murder, the ft and kidnapping, as well as debts needing to be repaid to the NGOs all play their part in the farmers inconsistencies and reluctance to report accurately. Unfortunately these problems only add to the difficulties being set about in trying to increase production. (Lok, p. 255) With the aid of extensionists also came the helpful tools that the NGOs had to offer. Because most cocoa was initially sold to middle men, farmers got low prices for their crops, thus ensuring the cycle of low production.With help from NGOs cocoa prices went up which opened opportunities for funding for better methods. The main problem faced in this are was mostly one that often strikes countries struggling with economic development. One government leader in attempting to incubate this problem of squandering increased income bluntly stated, Brother workers and peasants, begging your pardon, but you will have to soak up drunk less, and dedicate the money to your family. (Fagen, 1986) Its second largest tas k of providing ways to market its product has been aided both internally and externally.With new focus on commercialization and export procedures change is inevitable. Just as in the case with farming techniques, many of the issues that are hindering a large scale export are easily resolved. For instance, one of the major obstacles in the commercial cycle is simply that the roads are in such bad condition make travel impassable. (Dand, 1997) With the addition of government projects and government backing the authority for success is high. In addition, Nicaraguan commercialization of cocoa is focusing on the utilization of the CAFTA organization to help increase productivity.(Dilger, 2005) Following CAFTA encouragement, Nicaragua would focus its commercialization with the United States, who buys 25% of the world production. With this strengthened focus CAFTA will also push cocoa as a free market product, trying to arouse restrictions and increase sales. (Dilger, 2005) Interestingly , CAFTA is also aware of the traditional cocoa cultivation practices and is urging farmers to try mew methods. (Dilger, 2005) no matter of the many obstacles, the national goal of Nicaragua to increase production of one of its finest exports remains strong.Nicaragua is aware of its problems of low production, lack of credit, persistent Monilia, and pricing wars. (Dilger, 2005) However, with Nicaraguas high quality cocoa and the accompanying international demands, Nicaragua could easily postulate in the international cocoa trade. The potential for growth is strong, as is the determination of Nicaragua. References Dand, R. (1997). The International Cocoa Trade. raw(a) York John Wiley Sons. Retrieved March 26, 2009, from Questia database http//www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=114030771 Dilger, Robert. Kopsell, Edgar.(August 2005) Estrategias publicas-privadas en el sector Cacoa en Nicaragua y Acuerdos regionales de comercio libre. Fagen, R. R. (1986, November). The political relatio n of Transition. Monthly Review, 38, 1+. Retrieved March 26, 2009, from Questia database http//www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5002128448 Lok, Rossana. (1998) Traditional Cocoa Agroforesrty Systems in Wasala, Nicaragua. Navarrete, Ignacio Thelma Gaitan. (2005). Cadena del Cultivo Cacao. Somarriba, Eduardo. Sustainable Cocoa Production in Mesoamerica. www. worldcocoafoundation. org. Retrieved March 26, 2009