Amazon Interactive
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Coffee from your fields is sold throughout Ecuador. One hectare of land produces between 120 to 250 pounds of coffee annually. At the market, that will bring between $85 and $200. Coffee prices change often, so it's hard to predict exactly how much you will earn from it. | |
Maize is the original species of corn, native to the Americas. It has larger kernals than the corn we usually eat. It's still an important crop for many indigenous Americans. One hectare produces 200 pounds of maize annually. At the market, that will bring about $140. | |
Cacao is the chocolate tree. Cacao beans--which are actually seeds--are used to make cocoa and chocolate. One hectare produces about 300 pounds of cacao beans annually. They'll bring about $120 at the market |
It's time to plant for the coming year. With a growing family, you need to expand your fields and bring in more money. You have 15 hectares (40 acres) of land. You currently have 1 hectare of coffee, and 1/2 hectare each of cacao and maize. These brought in $260 last year. You want to make more money this year--over $300, and ideally closer to $400.
Map of your 15 hectare plot of land
What do you want to plant? Think about these things when planning your strategy:
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High income strategy 2 hectares of coffee on primary forest 1 hectares of cacao on primary forest 1 hectares of maize on secondary forest |
Conservation strategy 1 hectare of coffee on secondary forest 1 hectare of cacao on secondary forest 1 hectare of maize on secondary forest |
Balancing agriculture and conservation 1 hectare of in coffee on secondary forest 1 hectare of in cacao on primary forest 1 hectare of in maize on primary forest |
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