Projects

Duration:

Six years after one year extension

Location:

BRAZIL,
CAMEROON,
COTE D'IVOIRE,
ECUADOR,
GHANA,
MALAYSIA,
NIGERIA,
PAPUA NEW GUINEA,
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
VENEZUELA

Nature of Project:

Research and Development

Estimated total Cost:

US$ 10,167.000

Financing commited by CFC:

US$ 2,942.000

Co-financing:

US$ 2,300.000

Counterpart Financing:

US$ 4,925.000

Project Executing Agency (PEA):

International Plant Generic Resource Institute (IPGRI)

Project Supervisory Body:

International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)

Project Starting Date:

01/04/1998

Completion Date:

26/03/2004

Brief Description

The project is aimed at the development and distribution of improved, pest and disease-resistant varieties of cocoa planting materials by making optimal use of cocoa germplasm which produces good-quality cocoa and achieves higher and sustainable production levels.

Project Objectives

The project aims at the development and distribution of improved, pest and disease-resistant varieties of cocoa planting materials by making optimal use of cocoa germplasm, which produces good quality cocoa and achieves higher and sustainable production levels. These materials would be obtained through screening, selecting and breeding of improved cocoa genotype with economically important traits (yields, resistance to pest and diseases, quality etc), collected from among the great diversity of the germplasm existing in the cocoa-producing countries participating in the project. The improved cocoa varieties will subsequently be stored for dissemination in producing countries, in order to give cocoa farmers access to high-quality planting material.

Project Components

The project was made up of nine components. These are: International Clone trials; Internationally co-ordinated Hybrid trials; Germplasm Enhancement programme; Population Breeding activities; Germplasm Conservation, Characterisation and Preliminary evaluation; Distribution and quarantine of interseting genotypes; Exchange of information and workshops; Coordination and scientific/technical backstopping; and Management, supervision and evaluation. The project focuses at establishing functional links between germplasm conservation, evaluation and selection activities in a joint effort to increase the genetic potential of cocoa germplasm.