KUBALY – Chocolate from Nicaragua
CACAO NICA and Kubaly cocoa
In the heart of Nicaragua, near Waslala, 25 small producers who are members of the CACAO NICA cooperative grow an exceptional organic cocoa – KUBALY cocoa.
The region of Waslala has a moist tropical climate that is ideal for cocoa production. However, the natural forests are under threat: trees have been felled to make way for single-crop farming, resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity and lower water levels.
Moreover, Waslala is a remote area where violence and civil war have plagued the region for many years, depriving farmers of resources.
When peace returned to the area in the 1990s, a cocoa development project was set up in Nicaragua. It led to the creation of the CACAO NICA cooperative in 2002.
Name: CACAO NICA
Region: Waslala
Country: Nicaragua
Organisation: Cooperative with over 500 active members including 25 Kubaly cocoa farmers
Plantation surface area: not applicable
Variety: Trinitario
Environmental action: cocoa is grown in small-scale agro-forestry conditions, combined with other food and cash crops. This system promotes biodiversity, prevents deforestation and ensures water availability. Farmers only use organic fertilizers and no pesticides.
CACAO NICA is a farmers’ organisation with over 500 active members. All of them are small-scale cocoa producers spread over 40 Nicaraguan communities. The cooperative focuses on the production of high quality cocoa by engaging in:
– good farming practices,
– central post-harvest production,
– farmer training,
– improved logistics.
CACAO NICA is the first Nicaraguan cooperative to obtain organic certification for cocoa production. It has also obtained the SPP (Symbole Producteurs Paysans) fair trade label.
Producers have joined forces in a cooperative in order to benefit from higher prices for the sale of their high quality product. Most families own about 10 hectares of land, one or two hectares of which are planted with cocoa trees. Being able to sell their products at a good price on the international cocoa market provides them with an important source of income.
Farmers in the CACAO NICA cooperative are committed to protecting Nicaragua’s natural environment. Their agro-forestry crops are helping to curb deforestation in the region. Kubaly cocoa grows under the canopy of natural forests, combined with coffee, wheat, corn, beans and other crops. It is organically grown and less expensive to produce compared to traditional farming. It helps protect the natural environment and provides buyers with a healthier product.