Grafting workshop – SAF

Pictures : Jules Meunier

More than a year ago, we published an article on the conclusion of the SAF project, taking stock of the 4 weeks of training that had taken place between December 2021 and April 2022 in the Concession’s neighbouring communities. A large number of aguaje, caoba, camu camu and sugar cane plants were distributed to participants, enabling them to reproduce agroforestry systems on their own plots of land.

All that was missing were the 600 citric plants, which had not yet been distributed and were waiting under the care of Mr Marcial, a resident of the Mahuizo community. He is the only person in the community with an orange tree, which is around 15 years old and very productive. 

So all the conditions were right for organising a grafting workshop! 

From the Mahuizo communal premises, Milenka, the CCYM project coordinator and environmental engineer, gave a course on grafting, its usefulness and the best practices to adopt for success: which type of tree, which period, waxing or waning moon… Milenka will distribute a document summarising these tips and tricks during her next visit to the communities!

After this first part, Mr Orison, a resident of Mahuizo who was already used to grafting, took over to carry out the practical part of the training. He accompanied each of the 15 participants as they carried out their first graft, explaining each stage in great detail. 

What’s next? There are still more than 500 citrus trees that have not been grafted. The equipment used for the training course was entrusted to Mr Marcial. All the participants are invited to use this equipment in their spare time to carry out new grafts and thus continue (or initiate) reforestation in their respective plots. This pursues the objectives of sustainable development by and for the communities neighbouring the concession!