By Marquita Sugrim
Derived from its Greek title Theobroma Cacao, which interprets to “Meals of the Gods,” cocoa has been intricately woven into the tapestry of the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia since its arrival within the 1660s. From a steaming cup of scorching cocoa and engaging marinades to delectable goodies, its versatility has no bounds.
Cocoa tea, for instance, is an island custom that spans era. Over time, Saint Lucians have perfected the artwork of creating it with freshly floor cocoa sticks and contemporary spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and bay leaf.
In the course of the peak interval of the banana business within the 1960’s, cocoa discovered itself taking part in second fiddle. Previous to 1993, bananas from African, Caribbean and Pacific international locations had preferential entry to markets within the European Union due to particular insurance policies that favoured bananas from former colonies. Nevertheless, there have been important modifications to the commerce settlement within the early 2000s.
Yr later, the banana business in Saint Lucia all however collapsed.
“The cocoa business has been by its ups and downs, however we’re on the up once more,” exclaimed Cuthbert Monrocq, a neighborhood cocoa skilled and farmer. His face beamed with satisfaction as he displays on the resurgence of the cocoa business.
Cuthbert has been a cocoa farmer for twenty-four years. He began out as a labourer on a neighborhood farm, however over time not solely did his information of the business develop, so did his entrepreneurial abilities.
He presently owns Montuzuma Household Property – 9.5 acres of farmland – the place he grows mushrooms and greens and conducts agro-tourism excursions on his farm. His fundamental crop although is cacao.
Cuthbert has been up since 3:30 am, and like most mornings, he begins the day armed with a cup of steamy cocoa tea. His 67-year-old youthful stride takes him throughout his lush, sprawling farm, because the solar peeps by his large cocoa bushes.
He explains that he began cocoa farming in 2000 and prides himself on using sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods. His inventory of bushes additionally gives grafting materials, the popular technique for propagating cocoa, to make sure the sustainability of the business.
Cuthbert then labored with native farmers to assist their propagation of cocoa vegetation, sustaining a provide of the product to a lodge chain that’s the largest cocoa market on the island.
In 2018, Cuthbert arrange a company in his group to coach younger farmers. His ardour for the business ran so deep that he moved out of his house with the purpose of changing it right into a processing facility for the group. Whereas the remodelling was in progress, he lived in a small 15 toes x 24 toes construction, sometimes used for storage, on his farm.
Given his huge expertise and information of the cocoa business, the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO) along with the Ministry of Agriculture in Saint Lucia sought out Cuthbert’s experience when organizing a workshop to revitalize the cocoa business on the island.
The workshop educated over 40 farmers, agro-processors and extension officers in finest practices for cocoa manufacturing and processing. Farmers discovered about built-in pest administration, resembling figuring out pests and illnesses, sanitary pruning, designing correct drainage to handle moisture and applicable therapies.
Additionally they discovered about instruments and methods for harvesting, correct strategies for opening pods and extracting seeds, the phases and indicators of fermentation and at last the drying and storage of cocoa beans to stop losses.
“I’m honoured and humbled. I labored as an Extension Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture from 1983 to 2010, so to be invited to take part on this workshop makes me really feel nice,” Cuthbert exclaimed.
“What I loved probably the most was witnessing the participant’s understanding of the variations in tastes and smells once they skilled the varied chocolate—from bitter to candy tastes, and sharp vinegar scents to fruity, floral and deep chocolate fragrances.”
“Our cocoa is likely one of the finest on the earth and ideal for making wealthy chocolate, it presents a golden alternative to be a serious income earner for Saint Lucia together with empowering younger individuals to get into cocoa farming,” Cuthbert remarked.
Saint Lucia is likely one of the prime 9 exporters of one hundred pc effective or flavourful cocoa with the UK as its fundamental market. It’s also one of many prime 23 producers of premium cocoa on the earth, in response to the Worldwide Cocoa Group, which rated the island’s chocolate as distinctive.
The worldwide marketplace for cocoa is rising quickly because of the rising demand for premium chocolate merchandise, resembling bean-to-bar, natural and single-origin chocolate.
This market growth implies that cocoa can command premium costs on worldwide markets, implying enormous potential for Saint Lucia’s farmers.
The FAO coaching helps cocoa farmers on the island place themselves to benefit from this chance. All 43 of the coaching contributors extremely rated the workshop, and roughly 90 p.c felt that they improved in all areas of cocoa manufacturing from agronomy, harvesting, fermentation and storage.
Because the solar units on his cocoa farm, Cuthbert ends the day like he started it, with a cup of cocoa, assured that increasingly more individuals will get to benefit from the great chocolate from his island house.
The Proper to Meals is a common human proper. This yr, we’re advocating for that and extra. The meals that feed us have to have in mind variety, diet, affordability, accessibility in addition to security and sustainability. Over 2.8 billion persons are nonetheless unable to afford a nutritious diet. As we transfer towards World Food Day on October 16, FAO is emphasizing that the suitable to the meals, which meet all of those pillars, is essential for a greater life and a greater future for all.
Marquita Sugrim is the Nationwide Communications Advisor, Barbados and the OECS — The Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO)
