Project: Cocoa productivy and quallty improvement, a participative aproach

Abstract

Ille CFCIlCCOlBioversity h1ternational Project. Chapter INIAP•Ecuador, provided words) an opportunity 10 continue evalualing most of the hyhrid and clone trials startcd during lhe CFCIlCCOIlPGRl projcd (1998-2003), as well as starting participative cocoa research with the inclusion of producers pursuing a more efficient selection of superior caGaD cultivan;, Uoder the umbrella of the current project an agro-sociol enomic study was completed providing sorne useful insights on the multifactor environment wruch mediales cacao production in three distinct zones. Some important gennplasm oollection activities took place tlllder !he umbrella of this project enriching the phcnotypic and genotypic variability of the cacao genetic bank hold by TNEAP al the Estación Experimental Tropical Pichlingue. The project's period \Vas also fruitful at providing information on the influt:olce of sorne agronol factors (sexual compatibility, pruning lcvels, planting density