By Joselina Rodríguez
Photos: Liliana Elías
Retaking the prestige and quality of cocoa produced in the South of Maracaibo Lake, provenance of this precious Venezuelan seed is the daily task undertaken by those who make life in Chococao, the processing centre of the only cocoa of this kind in the area. Established more than 3 years ago in Los Positos, Municipality of Sucre in Zulia state, Chococao currently has the largest drying facilities in Venezuela as well as 31 fermentation drawers and 69 drying drawers. Its president, Armando Parra said that the history of this company started long after a cocoa farm was acquired in the village Las Virtudes, in Merida state.
Armando is a young entrepreneur and visionary who knew how to see cocoa as Venezuela’s new hope, which motivates him to go out every day for work in order to provide producers what they require for implementing best practices on their cocoa farms and haciendas.
“My entry into the cocoa world occurred after my father purchased a property 15 years ago. Who sold it said that it was a paradise and so I confirmed. There I learned the basics of cocoa: how to plant it, harvest it, dry it and then, sell it. My clients were neighbours producers, who I began to sell cocoa mucilage to, and afterwards I started buying them the grain to dry it, until when the opportunity arose to officially make up Chococao “he says.
The challenge to get involved completely in the sweet world of cocoa, led this young entrepreneur together with his brother and his father to buy substantial amounts of seed slime to other local producers and dry it in an old landing field that served as drying yard. On one occasion, due to three continuous days of heavy rain, he lost a large quantity of kilos of cocoa, situation which led him to look elsewhere to establish the company.
“With the incomes obtained from the sales of cocoa, I invested in buying an old brick fabric, whose facilities helped me set the processing centre Chococao. We distribute the spaces where commercial offices, the fermentation area, drying, storage, sampling and traceability currently operate, “says Parra.
Chococao in figures
The total production capacity of this company is 1846 tons of cocoa grain annually. Expert in improving the process of postharvest by applying interesting techniques in their fresh wood collecting sheets, drying yard and door canopy in order to offer a quality product both to producers and chocolate companies.
“The processed cocoa by Chococao comes from more than 800 producers from seven municipalities of Merida, Trujillo and Zulia states, creating direct employment to more than 40 people and about 150 associates, in addition to technical assistance to producers, hoping that this becomes an exclusive area of fine aroma cocoa. This cocoa actually competes internationally as the best.” Parra emphasizes.
Beyond being of benefit to these producers by buying their cocoa, this unique collection centre in South Lake provides them with care and advice to implement sustainable agricultural practices in order to increase productivity and quality in their plantations. These include pruning, genetic improvement of plants, use of bio-organic supplies, scheduled collection of cocoa mucilage as well as other activities such as training, education and awareness.
“More than 100,000 cocoa plants have been delivered to producers thanks to our logistics team, who is able to reach almost unexplored areas. We mobilized to where they are if they need to get their cocoa mucilage. We listen and respond to their needs. Their voices are critical in our organization because it allows us to know their situation. We share knowledge about cocoa and learn from them. Chococao always makes every effort to buying cocoa in the area, so that the producer does not feel bad due to lack of buyers, “he says.
On an interview with the spoke-person from the Audit Office of the Communal Council of Positos in Zulia, Ali De Villareal, Mr. Parra stated that the praiseworthy work done by Chococao in this community has benefited not only many families working for the company, but also the entire student population of South Lake.
“700 people representing 84 families in this area have been benefited from the work done by Chococao. Since its integration to the area it has created sources of employment, it has greatly contributed to the training of our children and also has given financial resources to school Muyapá 1, it has provided them with uniforms, fans, cleaning products and others, including the Communal Council. As an act of appreciation, school uniforms are embroidered with a logo of Chococao on them” he says.
“Sowing the Future”
Behind this slogan that identifies Chococao, there is a much more lucrative human and cultural vision: to educate producers to make South Lake an exclusive area of fine aroma cocoa or what they call nowadays “Modern Criollo Cocoa”. Its aim is not only to retake prestige nationally and internationally, but also to increase production from 500 kilos of cocoa per hectare to 1,500 kilos, as it happens in other countries currently.
“In order to think about a future of Venezuelan cocoa, we must make cocoa permeate in its people. And how do you do it? By listening to those who are involved in this world, sharing information, meeting their needs and expanding greatly this knowledge to new generations. Our mission, beyond benefiting, marketing, distributing cocoa beans and offering a quality product, is geared to providing with opportunities of growth and improvement to our producers, employees and families who live in the municipalities we assist “he says.
The closest example that this company has given is the motivation and support to its employees to plant cocoa and be able to have other earnings in years to come. To make them understand that if it is treated well and cultivated with love, by taking into account the recommendations of specialists, the vision of harvesting just for the sake of harvesting might change to harvest for earning and improving their quality of life.
“The future of cocoa is in the field and, this is being demonstrated by those who are migrating from the cities in search of better conditions. If they believe that, why don’t other sectors do? They are proving that with patience, love, perseverance and dedication, you can achieve great changes to extol the seed which has given us much recognition outside our borders. Thus, why don’t we repay it with more work? ” Says Parra.
Vision and expansion
The vision of Chococao is being a leader in commercialisation of the best cocoa in Venezuela and the world, exploiting the potential of this majestic coveted seed in Europe and Asia. To achieve this, they work with a great effort and perseverance by the hand of a family team work, fostering primarily environmental preservation and leaving aside any industrial process that might change the flavours and aromas of cocoa.
“In Chococao we praise human talent and play just as it is done on a chessboard, because if you do not work in team, it will not simply be attained anything. Here we all help, from the producer to who works in the field, creating community leaders. We are currently expanding our facilities, including a cocoa laboratory, a conference room, a library, a waiting room and others, in order to serve all those who wish, as we do, to continue sowing the cocoa future in Venezuela, “he said.
The Chococao expansion plans include the installation of a new warehouse which will be located in the town of Campo Alegre in Merida state. As it is pointed out by Armando Parra, this will have a nursery, a canopy, a drying room and a cocoa storage area to add new buyers into this market from the hometowns of Barinas and Tachira.
