Fertile duck eggs must be incubated in order to hatch. This can be done either: naturally (duck sits on them), or in an incubator.

Black Pod disease is caused by a fungus, Phytophthora palmivora. It infects pods, flower cushions, young vegetative shoots, stems and roots of cocoa trees. Black pod disease occurs mainly during the rainy season and is spread mainly by rain splash. When it is dry, such as in the dry season, the fungus is unable to grow, reproduce or infect cocoa.

Rehabilitation is the transformation of old, abandoned or semi-abandoned estates into productive, money earning enterprises. Unproductive cocoa trees are replaced with high-yielding, disease tolerant varieties. Yields would greatly increase if the cocoa plants are planted at a closer spacing instead of the traditional method.

A seventy per cent (70%) shade is absolutely necessary for newly established young cocoa plants. This should be gradually reduced to twenty five per cent (25%) shade for cocoa trees over five to seven years. Shade is needed to reduce water loss in the dry season.

Harvesting involves the removal of fully mature and ripe cocoa pods from the trees, and opening them to extract the beans (figure 2). Harvest pods with sharp cocoa knives or cutlasses. Do not damage the flower cushion

Cocoa or Theobroma cacao can be grown either from seeds (seedling cocoa), cuttings (clonal cocoa) or from grafted/budded plants. Seedlings have a tap root system and are recommended for hillsides and in areas with very dry conditions. They may also be grown on flat areas. Clones however, have a fibrous root system and are therefore recommended for flat.. Read more

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Witches’ Broom is a disease of cocoa caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa on cocoa. The infection causes numerous broom-like shoots to sprout, thus the term “Witches’ Broom”.

Container planting involves the use of an assortment of items in the home to grow vegetables or ornamental plants. Items which would otherwise be discarded as garbage can be used in your home garden.

Since plants are confined to a small, isolated volume of rooting media, water and nutrient reserves can be quickly exhausted. Therefore, you must maintain soil fertility levels, for container planting to be productive.