Zero Deforestation
Peruvian Cocoa

I am a member of the Central Committee with Development to the Future of Curimaná. I thank God for giving me life, strength and health. I have small plots of cocoa and I am reaping with joy what this generous land provides us. I came from San Martín, when I was a child, there I helped my parents to grow corn.

Our childhood was difficult, even more so when corn crops did not provide us with a solid and stable economy, it was then that we decided it was time to change and use our land to grow cocoa. We are happy to have taken this path.

We have an ancestral work system: the minga. We help each other with brothers to grow cocoa. We met early, with the first rays of the sun. We bring masato, chicha and shibé to regain strength. We grow the farm all day.

Cocoa has allowed me to have a quiet life, it has taught me to live in harmony with nature. I learned that humility and the earth are everything and I hope to pass this legacy on to my children.
Shibé: Typical jungle drink made from fermented cassava.

I am originally from San Martín, a hot land of the jungle, known for its food and its feast of San Juan. In my beginnings I grew coca, on land in Saposoa, capital of the province of Huallaga. At that time there was a strong repression of the government towards the people who were dedicated to these crops, we were careful but still we did not feel satisfied with what he did.

I moved to Ucayali, my Shipiba roots allowed me to adapt to this environment very easily. Many products were grown here, some lost economic strength and dedicating themselves to it did not help to have a good economy at home. I decided then that I wanted to grow cocoa, a flagship product.
We didn't have much experience at first, my kids pushed me to continue with this; we were informed, some technicians trained us, I thank them. Today, my family has a small plot of land that is our greatest pride.

I come from the San Martín region, there I was born and lived my first years. I arrived in Ucayali fleeing a life wrapped in illicit products, violence and narcoterrorism of the 90's. I wanted to use my strength for the good of the field, to leave everything bad behind. He was 16 years old at the time. To give new meaning to my life I first worked as a watchman until I was 20 years old. After a long time I moved to Curimaná to reunite with my parents and work in agriculture. At that time a program to grow cocoa emerged, there was technical training and I began to get excited about this new life. We got fully involved in the planting of cocoa until we formed an association of cocoa farmers of which I am a part. I have 5 hectares: 3 in production and 2 in growth, plots of which my family and I are proud. Cocoa is a product that has allowed us to live with tranquility and we hope to inherit this way of life to our children.

We move forward, instilling in these new generations the love for the countryside and the cultivation of the finest cocoa.

I arrived in Ucayali in 1997, on August 9. I am originally from San Martín. My beginnings as a country man took place in the province of Huallaga, here I lived with my wife cultivating the land. Out of love for my parents I decided to move to Ucayali, they had been living here for five years. This place attracted me in many ways: its mountains, its crops, its jungle.

This area was known for its banana crops, I dedicated myself to that, however, the economy changed and banana cultivation was no longer profitable. I went on to plant cotton, then corn; from corn I went to livestock, without so much success. These failures gave me the experience and knowledge to surpass myself. I decided to try it with cocoa and I'm very happy about this. Today I have 5 hectares of cultivation that are my greatest joy.