(See below for the English version.)

* We do not know the Sanskrit word "chakra" in detail, but the "chakra" mentioned here is a term of Ecuadorian indigenous Quechuan and refers to agroforestry.

Cultivation method practiced in July 2022 in the Amazon region of Ecuador, where Mamano cacao is cultivated."Chakra farming method"Was introduced along with four crops. You can see the archive here. In this blog, I will briefly introduce the contents of the seminar on the day.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj3GhJOZyss

(Japanese version)

About general monoculture farming methods

Usually in most parts of the worldCacao is a large monoculture plantationIt is produced in.

The cacao treeIt is planted very close in full sunlight and without shade.
Highly yielding and productive varietiesIs chosen, but because it is planted too closeDisease can easily be transferred from one tree to anotherIt is.

The use of chemicals is almost essential to prevent illness, and the intake of products is high, so fertilizers are used to secure production.Have to.

About chakra farming

Chakras are in contrast to such general agricultureis.
Chakras are managed by a family and you have almost everything you need for your daily life.

Fruit trees, medical plants, and ornamental plants are cultivated in the shade of native species that grow naturally or are planted by families.It has been.

Cacao is a species that is familiar to the chakra system, and the cultivar National Ariva, a native plant of the rainforest, has strong shade-resistant properties.

In other words, the QuechuanMany seeds needed to maintain daily life, culture and customs are cultivated together in the agroforestry system (chakra)I am doing it.

Chakras supply indigenous farmers with medicines, food and ingredients to make a variety of crafts.

Relationship with nature maintenance areas

The areas where the members of Winhak grow cacaoSurrounded by nature reserves and at the foot of the Andes, the headwaters of the river that would later form part of the larger Amazon RiverIt has become.

There is also a merit in the chakra farm because there is no pollution from the outside, and on the contraryBecause there is no pollution by chakra farming (no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers), it is also beneficial to the surrounding national reservesthere is.

Source of income for smallholders

By selling cocoa beansSmallholders are the main income of the householdCan be obtained.

Mamano for the above reasonsConsidering that the yield of cocoa beans from chakra is not so high, the price paid to farmers is high.We value the biodiversity, traditions and culture of the indigenous farmers of our partner organization, WINAK.

To maintain a highly biodiversity system

MamanoMaintaining a highly biodiversity agroforestry system that is attractive to young farmer familiesTo doIncorporate more chakra ingredientsI am particularly motivated.

we,It is very important for our customers to know our mission and philosophy based on transparency, integrity and protection of nature and culture.We believe that we produce high quality products with the finest and unique scents.

Lives in Ecuador
Cacao coordinator
Uri

(English ver.)

The benefits of chakra agriculture, A summary of the chacka seminar;

Usually and in most parts of the world, cocoa is produced in big monoculture plantations.
The cacao trees are planted very close together without shade in complete sunlight.

The varieties are selected for their high yield and productivity and as they are so close together, sicknesses can spread easily from one tree to the others.
The use of chemicals is almost obligatory to avoid sicknesses and because of the high outtake of products fertilizers have to be used to ensure production.

The chakra is a complete contrast to this common form of agriculture.
A chakra is managed by one family and gives almost all the products they need for their daily lives. Under the shade of native timbers species that grow naturally or are planted by the family, fruit trees, medical plants, and ornamental plants are cultivated.

The cacao is a species that integrates very well into the chakra, and the variety of national Arriba as a native plant from the rainforest is shade tolerant.
So, to say the Quichua people cultivate a high number of species together in an agroforestry system, needed for their daily lives and to maintain their culture and customs. The Chacra supplies the indigenous farmers with medicine, food, and raw material to prepare different artifacts.

The region where the members of Wiñak cultivate their cocoa is surrounded by natural reserves and as on the foot of the Andes, It is the origin of the rivers that later will form part of the big Amazonas River.

This benefits the chakra as there is no contamination coming from outside and on the other hand, the chakra benefits the national reserves as there is no contamination caused by the chakra.

By selling the cocoa beans, the families receive an income that is in many cases the main income for the small farmers' families.

Mamano is conscientious that the yield of cocoa from the chakra for the above-mentioned reasons is not so high and compensates for this with higher prices paid to the farmers, valuing the biodiversity, the traditions, and the culture of the indigenous farmers of our Partner-Organization Wiñak.

Mamano is motivated to integrate more ingredients from the chakra to maintain highly biodiverse agroforestry systems attractive to young farmers' families. We consider it very important that our customers know our mission and philosophy based on transparency, honesty, and the protection of nature and culture, creating high-quality products with the finest and unique aromas.