Project News

The project team has started a baseline survey of cacao producers' associations in Quinchía, Risaralda, one of the last of the five candidate pilot project sites planned for this year. The target cooperative consists of 70 cocoa producer members. The city of Quinchía used to be heavily influenced by the ELN (National Liberation Army) and paramilitary groups, and there was a large outflow and influx of displaced people, but now social integration has progressed and security is stable.

Visiting cacao farms of association members

The initial visit included a baseline survey of association board members, a project briefing for approximately 50 members, and meetings with city hall and the police. During this visit, it was confirmed that the association members, supported by the Colombian Cacao Producers Federation and SENA (National Vocational Training Agency), have a high level of knowledge about cacao production, and that the commercialization of their products and the efficiency of distribution are key to the project's consideration.

The project is planning to conduct interviews with the members over the next week by conducting door-to-door interviews. The data collected will then be analyzed in detail and an action plan will be developed together with the project stakeholders, mainly the association.

This project will continue to cooperate for the realization of rural reforms and peacebuilding in Colombia.

JICA Expert Kurihara explains the project to association members

Baseline survey for board members

Visiting cacao trees grown by association members

Hearing about drying and distribution of cacao beans

Interviews at Quinchía City Hall