We planted 5,000 Hybrid Cocoa (PA 70, T60, MAN I5, Pound 7) seeds today.
Assuming that all of them will germinate, the number of our plants will increase to 6,200.
Sustainable cacao farming in Africa
Our farmland is situated on the West African coast, 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Monrovia, the capital of the Republic of Liberia.
The equatorial proximity of the farm positions it within the narrow band of twenty degrees on either side of the equator – the area known as “The Cacao Belt”. The Cacao Belt is the tropical region where all of the cacao in the world is grown. Due to the close proximity to the equinoctial circle, the Cacao Belt is characterized by climate ideal for cocoa cultivation.
The Liberian year is divided into a wet and a dry season. Between November and April, the weather is hot and dry. The rainy season runs from May to October. Precipitation rates are about 2390 mm annually, and temperatures fluctuate between 75 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (24-37°C). The farm is exposed to an average of 11 hours and 40 minutes of sunlight per day. Through the year, the site experiences an almost constant, refreshing breeze. The trees are grown on our farm reap benefits from fertile soils composed of clay and loam with a pH level of 6.0. The river tributary that flows next to the plantation naturally provides additional drainage and aeration to the land.