Expanding IPNI - Cocoa Care Program with JSC Uralkali support

October 7, 2014. Penang, Malaysia – We are excited to announce the launch of a new Cocoa Care program supported by JSC Uralkali.

The Cocoa Care program is a highly effective and efficient method for businesses, research organizations, NGOs and individuals to engage with Indonesian cocoa farming families and to secure the future of industries and communities that rely on cocoa production.

Uralkali is one of the world’s largest producers of potash, a fertilizer potassium source used to overcome soil nutrient deficiencies. As part of their commitment to sustainable development, Uralkali is joining forces with Cocoa Care (www.cocoacare.org) and the IPNI’s Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) to help improve the lives of cocoa farming families in Indonesia.

This new program is focused on enhancing the yield and profitability of cocoa production systems, facilitate the effective use of production inputs, and improve the soil quality of intensively managed cocoa production systems. As a global research and development organization, IPNI-SEAP promotes responsible nutrient management through the use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship consistent management practices - using the right nutrient source, applying it at the right rate, at the right time, in the right place.

Over the next four years, 60 farms from around the Soppeng/ Bone region will join this program. All farmers involved in the Uralkali / IPNI program are struggling to maintain sustainable productivity levels under increasing pressure from pests and diseases.

All farmers involved in this program will receive training in good agricultural practices, tool kits for both male and female members of the farming family as well as fertilizer and pest management inputs for the program duration. Dead or non-productive cacao trees will be rehabilitated or replaced with the best available planting materials. In addition, farmers will also receive support and guidance from a Cocoa Carer – a highly trained farmer who works as an extension professional.

Support programs like these are vital to help cocoa farming families escape the poverty trap common to poorly-managed farms and get on a solid path toward sustainable and profitable production. We urge companies and individuals who are interested in collaborating with IPNI in this high-impact initiative to contact us.

To read more about Uralkali's commitment to sustainability please visit: www.uralkali.com/sustainability

About IPNI
The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is a not-for-profit, science-based organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of people. Through cooperation and partnerships with respected institutions around the world, IPNI adds its strength to agronomic research, education, demonstrations, training, and other endeavors. Best management practices for nutrient stewardship encourage the concept of 4Rs - applying the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. To learn more about IPNI, please visit: www.ipni.net

Contact
Dr. Thomas Oberthür, IPNI Director of Southeast Asia Program
Email: toberthur@ipni.net