Development of a Fresh Cacao Grading System Using Participatory Mechanisms in Nan Province
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Abstract
Cacao is a continually growing crop in Nan Province of Thailand. However, a reliable sorting system for fresh cacao is lacking. Farmers and agricultural cooperatives lack the knowledge and experience to effectively manage their produce. Consequently, the quality and quantity of fresh cacao do not meet market demands, and determining distribution prices becomes challenging. This situation leads to unreliable income for farmers. This study addresses the issue by developing a system for quality selection of fresh cacao in Nan Province through a participatory certification mechanism. The network involves 72 farmers, five agricultural cooperatives from five pilot districts in Nan Province, and a market network. The operation involves the following steps: 1) Collecting qualitative data on fresh cacao produce, including weight, length, diameter, and weight of seeds per fruit, and standardizing the quality system for fresh cacao; 2) Developing a fresh cacao quality screening system using participatory mechanisms and quality criteria such as Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C; 3) Enhancing understanding of the fresh cacao quality selection system through workshops on environmental management, designed to increase the quantity and quality of fresh cocoa and facilitate quality selection according to fresh cocoa standards; and 4) Transferring knowledge to improve cocoa production capabilities, cocoa plantation management, and disease and pest management. As a result, farmers saw their income increase by an average of 72.17 percent, while cooperatives experienced a 102.9 percent income increase. Moreover, the quality of cocoa products met more than 80 percent of buyers' needs. The fresh cacao quality selection system has the potential to foster sustainable cocoa businesses in Nan Province.
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