Natural Habitats
Impact Report 2021/2022
30
Natural Habitats
Impact Report 2021/2022
31
DORA ARELLANO
SHORT INTRODUCTION TO THE FARMER At 76 years old, Dora Arellano is a proud mother of 5 children, a grandmother to 7 grandchildren, and a great grandmother to 7 great grandchildren. Alongside her 38 hectares of farm, Dora takes great pleasure in the little garden of Eden she has created around her house, which is filled with fruit trees and beautiful flowers. Dora has been farming organically for many years, but became part of the Natural Habitats network in 2021. Her farm currently spans 38 hectares. 30 of those have been planted with oil palms, which leaves the other 8 for growing cacao and annual crops like corn. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW THEY WORK When Dora acquired the farm, all of the land was planted with cocoa. But the cocoa trees were old and had low productivity. About 16 years ago, after a bad year, a cousin advised Dora to switch to palm. After planting a couple of hectares with oil palms, Dora realised that they involved less risk, less labour and less support than other crops. Now, Dora’s son and one full time worker help to manage the oil palms, and they hire more support during the harvest. Dora is very aware of the damage chemicals can cause. And with her son and their worker out in the field every day, she feels responsible for their wellbeing. That’s why Dora’s farm uses waste material from the harvest as an organic source for fertilisation. This organic matter protects the palm roots, helps to maintain humidity in the plantation, and retains water for the oil palms during the dry season. But, as the weather becomes even more unpredictable, Dora has been thinking about installing irrigation as an additional measure to protect her crops. Sadly, the farm bordering Dora’s oil palms is a conventional cocoa plantation. Due to the risk of chemical contamination, Dora will need to plant a buffer zone to protect her oil palms. She plans on using Pilgrim bush – a type of hibiscus, which is thick with vegetation and is also known to attract hummingbirds.
Thanks to being an organic, diversified farm, Dora’s plantation now provides a permanent shelter for wildlife. She regularly spots species like purchipine, ferrets, possums, armadillo, sloths, otters, and many snakes. Instead of burning oil leaves like other farmers, Dora’s farm uses them for fertilisation, soil protection, and water retention, which means much more wildlife can survive. WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE Two years ago, Dora was contacted by Natural Habitats. Since then, she has started the process of joining our supply network. However, this process can take some time, as farmers are required to become organic and RSPO certified. Unfortunately, environmental checks like a Land Use Change Analysis can take long. This means Dora can’t yet benefit from the premium to cover any additional expenses. But once this process is complete, Dora knows that the collaboration will provide her with the support, technical assistance, and advice she needs to better manage and protect her farm in the long run. COLLABORATING WITH NATURAL HABITATS?
FARMER WITH A VISION
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