This 30-year-old coconut farm set across 2,132 Ha was purchased with aim of rehabilitating the established coconut palm plantation back to full productivity and to establish a 800-Ha fine flavor, organic cocoa plantation inter-cropped with coconut palms, which will be the largest in the Dominican Republic and among the largest in the world.
The farm is split between mechanizable area, non-mechanizable area and natural forests. A modern fertigation system will be installed in the mechanizable area. In parallel, new and higher-yielding coconut palms will be planted next to the aging existing ones. The coconut palms will thus keep producing nuts until the new palms start producing. The old palms will then be removed.
The farm has 843 Ha of natural forests that are and will continue to be protected, which will ensure the provision of important ecosystem services such as natural pest control, wind protection, and water flow regulation.
The entire Project will be organic certified and produce premium cocoa for export and a range of premium-quality coconut products, such as virgin coconut oil, coconut water and sugar, sold domestically and abroad.
FARM FACTS
REGION: Nagua, Dominican Republic
SIZE: 2,132 Ha
MANPOWER: 38 in 2019 to 300 by 2021
FARM TYPE: Mixed
COCOA CLONES: CC-10, CRIOLLO-11, ICS-40, ICS-95, IMC-67, IML-44, ML-105, ML-106, ML-22, UF-221, UF-29, UF-296, UF-613, UF-676
COCONUT HYBRIDS: Chactemal, Donaji
RAINFALL: 3,000 mm/year
ALTITUDE: 36 - 543 meters above sea level
SOIL: Highly weathered Ultisols
APPROACH: Organic farming
KEY FARMING PRACTICES:
Inter-cropping
Drip fertigation
Habitat protection
