FORCLIME facilitated agroforestry training for cocoa farmers in Malinau, North Kalimantan on 19-20 August 2019. The event was conducted at two places, namely in Setulang village and in Pulau Sapi village. The training aims to increase cocoa productivity in Malinau. Beside farmers from Setulang and Pulau Sapi villages, the training was also attended by representatives from the North Kalimantan Forestry Service, the Sajau Village Forest Management Board, Forest Management Unit (KPH) Bulungan, local NGOs (Pionir Bulungan, the Malinau agroforestry extension association-IPAMA), the Malinau Agricultural Service, the Malinau vocational school (SPP Malinau) and KPH Unit X Malinau.

In addition to theory, participants also carried out field practices, such as how to do pruning, thinning, stratification, handling pest and diseases and cocoa side grafting. During the field practices, participants learned techniques on planting rice without burning when opening the land. Moreover, they learned how to manage fruit and cocoa trees using the agroforestry approach.

The training evaluation showed that participants are fulfilled and gained knowledge needed for increasing their cocoa productivity, additionally, they expect to have further trainings to enhance their knowledge in managing cocoa farms and organizations related to cocoa production. After the training, participants will share their gained knowledge with other farmers at the respective villages.

For more information, please contact:
Mohammad Sidiq, Coordinator North Kalimantan Province
Helmi Yohanes Setiabudi, intern student from the Papua University