During our Bolivar Garden Saturday this month, the school was visited by Dr Vaast to discuss the viability of planting  cacao at the school.  The following

• The area is well suited to the planting of cacao

  

• The first step is to peg out the area in a 3mx3m triangular system to see the carrying capacity of the area – students, BGS and Dr W
• Agrosavia scientists will check with Sedes La Suisa (Santander) and Nataima (Bogota) to see what germplasm they have and what can be donated to the project
• It is thought that we shall have at least five high producing varieties from Agrosavia that we need to apply for. Scientists will help with this.
• Scientists will also check the time needed to produce shade from planted banana and plantain and other trees before planting cacao – at least 6 months
• Scientists will also check with Fedecacao about getting technical advice from them for planting and what germplasm can be purchased (by Don Simon Club)
• Holes will need to be dug and the substrata inspected. Holes of 40x40x40 are sufficient, but 40x40x50 will probably be better.
• Banana and plantain to be planted to produce shade.
• Irrigation – drip system with potential for a new tank above the area to be implemented. Quantity of water needed will be investigated by scientists. Javier Guttierez to design a drip irrigation system with a “rat tail” to irrigate the cacao plants, initially after direct planting.
• Planting time to coincide to be at least two months before rainy season.