Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic.- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) on Monday donated a hybrid cacao nursery to the La Piñita Cacao Growers Association of El Valle township (east).
This nursery produces around 250,000 hybrid cacao seedlings of high genetic value annually, expected to improve the cacao plantations and the lives of more than 160 farmers in the community’s 565 planting sites.
"FAO is making efforts to train small and medium producers to optimize their crops’ productivity and quality as a way to increase income and improve their livelihoods," said FAO representative in the country Gero Vaagt.
The expert urged La Piñita growers to watch over the nursery and their cacao plantations to prevent pests and diseases and manage production to have a positive impact on the environment and the natural resources.