Kulikayo Farm
@kulikayofarm.bsky.social
Rainforest Alliance cocoa and vanilla - and much more - from the Pearl of Africa
After a month without rain — in the middle of the rainy season! — we've had four good downpours in the past five days.
Tempting though it is, we can't resume planting, as — in theory — January and February will be hot and dry.
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
Tempting though it is, we can't resume planting, as — in theory — January and February will be hot and dry.
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
December 18, 2025 at 1:40 PM
After a month without rain — in the middle of the rainy season! — we've had four good downpours in the past five days.
Tempting though it is, we can't resume planting, as — in theory — January and February will be hot and dry.
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
Tempting though it is, we can't resume planting, as — in theory — January and February will be hot and dry.
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
Not a cloud in the sky: but where's the rain?
November was drier than usual and we've had no rain for over two weeks, even though we should be getting rain until Christmas.
So much for planting more cocoa and vanilla 😕
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
November was drier than usual and we've had no rain for over two weeks, even though we should be getting rain until Christmas.
So much for planting more cocoa and vanilla 😕
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
December 3, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Not a cloud in the sky: but where's the rain?
November was drier than usual and we've had no rain for over two weeks, even though we should be getting rain until Christmas.
So much for planting more cocoa and vanilla 😕
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
November was drier than usual and we've had no rain for over two weeks, even though we should be getting rain until Christmas.
So much for planting more cocoa and vanilla 😕
#ClimateEmergency #Uganda
Another drop in the cocoa harvest 😕.
605kg of pods is 50% down on this time last year, so definitely another change to the pattern.
However, the yield so far this financial year (July-June) is slightly up on 24/25 😊. It'll be interesting to see what the next few harvests bring. #organic #Cocoa
605kg of pods is 50% down on this time last year, so definitely another change to the pattern.
However, the yield so far this financial year (July-June) is slightly up on 24/25 😊. It'll be interesting to see what the next few harvests bring. #organic #Cocoa
November 28, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The number of vanilla flowers pollinated has already passed the same time last year, and there's still a long way to go; hopefully we'll get the biggest harvest yet next July. However, we should be getting far more than we are, so we need to improve our management of the vanilla.
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The number of vanilla flowers pollinated has already passed the same time last year, and there's still a long way to go; hopefully we'll get the biggest harvest yet next July. However, we should be getting far more than we are, so we need to improve our management of the vanilla.
Theft update: we located the place — on our farm! — where the thieves removed the seeds from the cocoa pods. They had covered the evidence with grass.
This, of course, completely blows away their alibi.
We just need to have them arrested now.
This, of course, completely blows away their alibi.
We just need to have them arrested now.
September 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Theft update: we located the place — on our farm! — where the thieves removed the seeds from the cocoa pods. They had covered the evidence with grass.
This, of course, completely blows away their alibi.
We just need to have them arrested now.
This, of course, completely blows away their alibi.
We just need to have them arrested now.
The bad news part 2: a young man was last night seen hiding a sack of freshly harvested cocoa beans in a nearby unfinished house. When questioned today, he came up with the tall story that he had been paid to put the sack there. The case is now with the police.
#organic #Cocoa #Uganda
#organic #Cocoa #Uganda
September 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The latest cocoa harvest is marginally down (-9%) on the previous one, but almost exactly the same as this time last year. Not the increase we need to make up for the drop in price, though.
The immediate issue, however, is will the reinforcements to the fermentary are enough to prevent more theft?
The immediate issue, however, is will the reinforcements to the fermentary are enough to prevent more theft?
September 16, 2025 at 5:45 AM
The latest cocoa harvest is marginally down (-9%) on the previous one, but almost exactly the same as this time last year. Not the increase we need to make up for the drop in price, though.
The immediate issue, however, is will the reinforcements to the fermentary are enough to prevent more theft?
The immediate issue, however, is will the reinforcements to the fermentary are enough to prevent more theft?
Not content with stealing cocoa from the drying station, thieves have stolen part-fermented beans from the fermenting boxes. We estimate they took 50% of the last harvest, and possibly around 20% of the previous. So we've had to reinforce the fermentary. Why can't they just find honest work?
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Not content with stealing cocoa from the drying station, thieves have stolen part-fermented beans from the fermenting boxes. We estimate they took 50% of the last harvest, and possibly around 20% of the previous. So we've had to reinforce the fermentary. Why can't they just find honest work?
For over 1,300 consecutive days, the drying cocoa beans have been locked away at night in the store. Last Sunday, our longest-serving employee changed the routine and took the keys from the employee who usually locks the cocoa away on Sundays. He subsequently 'forgot' to lock the beans away.
August 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
For over 1,300 consecutive days, the drying cocoa beans have been locked away at night in the store. Last Sunday, our longest-serving employee changed the routine and took the keys from the employee who usually locks the cocoa away on Sundays. He subsequently 'forgot' to lock the beans away.
No gap year: usually we have two vanilla seasons, with distinct gaps, in the two dry seasons. This year, however, we are still pollinating the tail end of the first season, while beginning to pollinate the start of the second season. What's going on?
#vanilla #ClimateEmergency #Uganda
#vanilla #ClimateEmergency #Uganda
August 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
No gap year: usually we have two vanilla seasons, with distinct gaps, in the two dry seasons. This year, however, we are still pollinating the tail end of the first season, while beginning to pollinate the start of the second season. What's going on?
#vanilla #ClimateEmergency #Uganda
#vanilla #ClimateEmergency #Uganda
Just when we'd finished our projections for the July '25-June' 26 financial year, and were hoping for a first profit, the price of cocoa drops by 25% to 15,000 UGX/Kg (~$4 USD). 😢
Now we're going to have to come up with a cunning plan to make up the shortfall 🤔
#Cocoa #Uganda
Now we're going to have to come up with a cunning plan to make up the shortfall 🤔
#Cocoa #Uganda
August 1, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The downside of delegation: while pruning cocoa in the main field last week, there were many dry or drying pods, on upper branches and in dense foliage. Not because of disease or pests, but because they had not been harvested when ripe. So I joined the workers on Saturday's harvest. The result?
July 8, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The downside of delegation: while pruning cocoa in the main field last week, there were many dry or drying pods, on upper branches and in dense foliage. Not because of disease or pests, but because they had not been harvested when ripe. So I joined the workers on Saturday's harvest. The result?
Are we in the dry or rainy season?
It should be the former, but it feels like the latter. 🤔
While the rain is welcome for the cocoa and vanilla planted earlier this year, the unpredictable weather disrupts flowering and harvesting patterns, making things, well, unpredictable.
#ClimateEmergency
It should be the former, but it feels like the latter. 🤔
While the rain is welcome for the cocoa and vanilla planted earlier this year, the unpredictable weather disrupts flowering and harvesting patterns, making things, well, unpredictable.
#ClimateEmergency
June 30, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Are we in the dry or rainy season?
It should be the former, but it feels like the latter. 🤔
While the rain is welcome for the cocoa and vanilla planted earlier this year, the unpredictable weather disrupts flowering and harvesting patterns, making things, well, unpredictable.
#ClimateEmergency
It should be the former, but it feels like the latter. 🤔
While the rain is welcome for the cocoa and vanilla planted earlier this year, the unpredictable weather disrupts flowering and harvesting patterns, making things, well, unpredictable.
#ClimateEmergency
Local vanilla farmers bring their harvest to our site for collection by Enimiro Products Limited. We have worked with Enimiro to register farmers, and in the next year, will assist in certifying them as FairTrade organic, to increase the value of their vanilla by around 30%. #organic #vanilla
June 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM