Maximize Yield & Quality in Uganda
At Zola Produce, we work directly with Ugandan cocoa farmers to improve productivity, quality, and income. This step-by-step guide covers planting, maintenance, harvesting, and post-harvest best practices to help you grow premium cocoa beans for local and international markets.
🌱 Step 1: Planting for Success
✅ Choosing the Right Variety
Uganda’s climate favors hybrid clones with disease resistance and high yields:
✔ CCN51 – High-yielding, resistant to black pod disease
✔ Tropical (Amelonado) – Traditional, good flavor profile
✔ Trinitario – Balanced yield & fine cocoa taste
✅ Ideal Planting Conditions
- Soil: Well-drained loamy soil (pH 5.5–7.0)
- Spacing: 3m x 3m (for shade-grown cocoa)
- Shade Management:
- 30% canopy cover (use banana, plantain, or Gliricidia trees)
- Avoid dense shading (reduces pod production)
✅ Propagation & Nursery Tips
- Seedlings: Use healthy, disease-free seeds from certified nurseries
- Grafting: Increases disease resistance (e.g., bud grafting)
- Transplanting: Best at 6–8 months old, at the start of rains
✂️ Step 2: Maintenance for High Yields
✅ Pollination Boost (Critical for Higher Pods!)
- Hand-pollinate flowers (use a soft brush) during dry spells
- Increases pod formation by up to 70%
✅ Pruning for Better Growth
- “Chupon” pruning: Keep 3–4 main branches for optimal airflow
- Remove diseased or crossing branches
- Prune twice a year (before rainy seasons)
✅ Pest & Disease Control (Organic Methods)
Problem | Symptoms | Organic Solution |
Black Pod Disease | Dark spots on pods | Baking soda spray (1 tbsp per liter) |
Cocoa Mirids | Sucking damage on pods | Neem oil spray (weekly) |
Swollen Shoot Virus | Yellow leaves | Remove & burn infected trees |
✅ Fertilization for Healthy Trees
- Compost/Manure: Apply 10kg per tree annually
- NPK (15-15-15): 200g per tree, 3x per year
🍫 Step 3: Harvesting & Post-Harvest Perfection
✅ When & How to Harvest
- Ripe pods: Turn yellow/orange (not green)
- Harvest every 2–3 weeks (prevents over-ripening)
- Use a sharp knife (do not pull pods!)
✅ Fermentation (The Flavor Maker!)
🚫 Avoid: Fermenting in sacks (uneven fermentation)
✅ Best Method:
- Wooden boxes (50cm depth max)
- Ferment for 5–6 days
- Turn every 48 hours (for even heat distribution)
- Check: Beans should turn brown (not purple)
✅ Drying for Premium Quality
- Sun-dry on raised bamboo racks (not on the ground!)
- Turn beans 3x daily
- Moisture content must be ≤7.5% (snap test: beans should break, not bend)