SAVING COCOA IN ECUADOR

One of the most important crops in Ecuador is cocoa, the seeds of this plant are the basis for the production of the finest chocolates in the world. Cocoa has been for more than a hundred years one of the three most important products of export of our country, its importance in the national economy is very big because hundreds of thousands of people live from cocoa plantations.

As all monocultures have different diseases that kill and decrease productivity, cocoa always has suffered from attacks of fungi and insects that have finished complete, plantations despite efforts farmers and technicians have done to try to at least reduce the damage caused by different pests.1

Vitalimp AX is now available to give vitality to the plants, increasing its foliage and combat pests and diseases, cocoa producer now can see increase their production not only in quantity but in quality by using an organic product with not toxics, friendly with people and the environment. Cocoa harvested using Vitalimp AX in plantations may be marketed as organic and free of pesticides and poisons.

Diseases Founded

In the farm The Black Valley owned by Antonio Holguín, located in Monterrey, La Concordia, has been detected on 5 hectares of cocoa plantation variety CCN 51 the presence of the fungus Monilia (Moniliophthora) that had infested the plantation causing huge losses and expenses with the use of a number of toxic fungicides without any result. Also was detected the presence of Red Spiders (Tetranychus urticae) that are really mites that nest in a kind of spider net.

Below you can see the before and after cocoa ear pictures affected by the Monilia fungus, it dries and damaged completely to cocoa producing huge losses.

cocoa beforecocoa after

In the plants the ears begin to dry and there is the presence of a white powder which are the spores that very easily spread quickly infesting all the plantation (below left). Finally, the cobs dry completely (below right).

In the following images, you can see plants damaged by mites and fungi, these plants had already been treated with various highly toxic fungicides and insecticides, harmful to workers who care for this plantation. The outcome of these applications was practically nothing, with these proceedings, spending too much money and workers time unnecessarily.

Damage both the ears and leaves of plants was evident and the owner of the plantation was esceptical to apply one more product, anyway we ask him to try Vitalimp AX, with no compromise, so he can see the results. He agreed, and allowed us to spray the plants with our product.

Leafs damaged by mites

Tests Performed and Results Obtained

In September 16th, 2010 we proceeded to spray four test plants with Vitalimp AX. These plants had Monilia symptoms and were infested with red spiders.

On October 1st we returned to the plantation to see the results of a single application Vitalimp AX and the results were surprising, in treated plants only 15 days ago the Monilia and red spiders had disappeared, this can be seen in the following photos..

Healthy, strong and clean cocoa plants and ears. The Monilia fungi had disappeared and the Red Spiders were lost. Vitalimp AX had succeded with these two plagues.

Cocoa plants were strong and healthy with many new and healthy foliage thanks to Vitalimp AX

Antonio Holguín, plantation owner is very satisfied with the results obtained in these tests, immediately ordered to spray all the plantation to prevent the spread of the monilia and red spider.

He is very happy with a lot of new foliage and waits plenty cocoa in the next harvest in the Vitalimp AX treated plants.

Tests have been made directly in the field, and the results are visible. We are convinced that the new agricultural revolution has begun with the use of organic products good with humans, plants, animals and the planet.

In few more days our new company Biowash Ecuador S. A. shall make available to all Ecuadorian farmers this wonderful product.

Read more about BioWash in Equador on Gary Scott’s blog below. BioWash is named “Vitalimp AX” in Ecuador and it is now available to give vitality to the plants, increasing its foliage and combating .

Hacienda “San Cristóbal”

La Independencia Km. 50 Vía Sto. Domingo – Quinindé, Ecuador
Cel: 099705836 099701926 095225981 099705412
eMail: wcobo@msn.com ivettecruperti@msn.com

Cocoa Report: October 19th. 2010