At 63, Elías Erraez is a leading producer in the Amazon. Born in Azuay, he decided to go to Orellana on April 15, 1970, to obtain land and dedicate himself to agriculture. He has a family and together with his seven children, he is now a cocoa producer.

Ecuadorian cocoa production is important for the country’s economy. Ecuadorian cocoa is recognized worldwide for its aroma, and is the main ingredient for preparing delicious chocolates. It is estimated that 498,794 hectares (ha) are harvested, 309,066 thousand tons are produced and 319,705 jobs are created per year (73% men and 27% women).

Elías decided to begin growing this crop fifteen years ago; first he produced domestic cocoa, but now he has a super tree (variety of cocoa). His farm produces about 15 bags per ha. “We support ourselves with this, people support themselves, the price doesn’t drop much because they mainly buy it abroad. This has allowed us to have income for the children’s education and to live well,” he said.

Every day he goes to his farm, puts on his cap, takes his machete and his rubber boots, and to the sound of the birds, he harvests cocoa, moves the branches, breaks the fruit and extracts the seeds. His dog also accompanies him. He has coffee, cassava and bananas on his land and sometimes he raises livestock. He lives with the forests and has established two sectors on his property; one, which is not touched, is for the forest, and the other is for productive activities. “The forest ensures, for example, that springs are not depleted, and they protect us from strong winds. You use what you need,” he said.

Forests offer many benefits for agriculture; for example, they regulate the temperature of the area, purify the air and provide water. They help contain the land when rivers overflow and flood. Forests provide food and medicine; they have spiritual and cultural values ​​and are the habitat of many animals and birds.

Elías is a member of the San Carlos Cocoa Producers Association. “Since 2005, there have been ups and downs; we trade, sometimes at a loss, but we keep going,” he told us. Agricultural associations and cooperatives help create more opportunities, efficiency, better use of resources, greater access to information and representation. Mutual aid in agricultural systems improves the quality of life of the members with equality, inclusion, respect and pluralism. In 2005, Elías founded the San Carlos Association, which currently has 22 members.

The cocoa harvest coincided with this time of COVID – 19. Elías continues to work and is following health recommendations; he said that he hopes to have the support of PROAmazonía so that his system can adapt to these new conditions and continue caring for the forest. “I hope to increase my productivity a little more and that there will be no lack of cocoa to survive.”