Our workshops for producer families use a hands-on methodology tailored to each of the three Amazonian regions. These trainings focus on:
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
1Group workshops
These sessions build the capacity of producers related to the correct use of inputs, proper pruning procedures, soil management techniques, and more. The trainers show the tangible economic and environmental benefits to adapting such changes.
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
4,914Farming families
participated in group workshops
Men 3,313
Women 1,601
2Field Days
These sessions bring participants out to farms to demonstrate proper agricultural practices. Here, participants learn to apply soil nutrition, appropriate pruning techniques, integrated pest management, plant sowing specifics, and crop irrigation.
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
3,172producer families
participated in Farm Days.
Men 2,003
Women 1,169
3Technical Visits
The Alliance Technical team visits farming families to evaluate the best practices in action, give recommendations, and offer specialized technical assistance.
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
5,753Producers Families
have received technical visits
Men4,449
Women1,304
4 Model Farm Visits
Seeing is Believing! Producers interested in upgrading their skills and capabilities can visit farmers utilizing the integrated technology package within the Alliance market linkages to replicate on their own plots
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
275Producer Families
participated in model farm visits
Men183
Women92
SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE FOR CACAO PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY
The Schools of Excellence for Cacao Productivity and Quality seek to boost yields of farming families by offering the technical expertise necessary to properly implement good agricultural practices. These Schools include technology partners and input providers to offer the proper tools to upgrade one’s plot, along with financiers to help farming families make productive investments.
The Schools of Excellence for Cacao Productivity and Quality seek to boost yields of farming families by offering the technical expertise necessary to properly implement good agricultural practices. These Schools include technology partners and input providers to offer the proper tools to upgrade one’s plot, along with financiers to help farming families make productive investments. The objective of the Schools of Excellence is to equip producers with the necessary tools to become a technology agent for his or her community.
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
385Producer Families
have participated in Schools of Excellence for Cacao Productivity and Quality
Men 262
Women 123
The objective of the Schools of Excellence is to equip producers with the necessary tools to become a technology agent in his or her community.
WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE SCHOOLS?
Technology Partners/Input Providers:
YARA
Mallki
San Fernando
Husqvarna
Commercial Financiers:
Agrobanco
Financiera Confianza
Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Prisma
Agents transfer their knowledge (acquired in the Schools of Excellence) to smallholder producers in the community. This “training of trainers” or “cascade training” model allows the Alliance to reach an exponentially higher number of small holder producers in the outermost reaches of the Amazon.
HOW DOES THIS MODEL WORK?
The skills and capacities needed to become a Technology Agent include:
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Comprehensive soil nutrition management and appropriate pruning methods
Organic fertilizer and appropriate pruning methods.
2
Comprehensive pest management
Pest and disease control.
3
Soft skills
Leadership abilities, gender focus, and self-confidence.
4
Business management
Financing or investment in rural businesses, financial education, loan applications, and digital inclusion.
After training for eight months, the producer will learn the ins and outs of the technology package and, in coordination with private sector partners, build local demand for plot upgrades.
The Agent will continue to maintain his or her plot according to Alliance standards, acting as a demonstration plot to show in the community.
The Schools of Excellence help Technology Agents identify potential clients within their own communities.
WHAT PRODUCT AND SERVICES DO THE TECHNOLOGY AGENTS OFFER?
The Technology Agent is first and foremost an entrepreneur, facilitating technology to smallholder farmers in the community.
For example, Agents can become distributors of fertilizer or pruning machinery.
Agents, however, do not merely offer the technology or inputs—they are a local resource to offer technical assistance on the correct use of such products for cacao producers. This continued engagement ensures Agents can monitor the progress of each plot and identify the needed upgrades to increase productivity.
Likewise, Technology Agents can become service providers by offering to prune crops, prepare the soil, and mange pest control with their specialized skills.
That Agents are part of the communities they work in is critical to the technology distribution model. Agents are at-the-ready to offer technical assistance in the use of these technology upgrades to build customer loyalty.
As of March 2020 in Ucayali
the Alliance has trained23
potential Technology Agents
Men 16
Women 7
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
The Peru Cacao Alliance model builds a dense network of Technology Agents to ensure a functioning business ecosystem for producer families that have participated in the Alternative Development program for more than fifteen years.
The Alliance believes that producers are ready to become agricultural entrepreneurs, themselves capable of replicating and passing on the technical assistance required to increase productivity and incomes.
Since Alliance cacao producers are fully integrated into stable and profitable value chains, the commercial relationships will continue to grow once the donor funds end.
The private sector will remain working within these profitable market niches in each of the regions. Input providers or technology distributors wish to continue growing alongside their eager and reliable client base within the cacao value chain. They are financially incentivized to continue offering solutions to agricultural bottlenecks and provide a pathway for farmers out of poverty.