Testing the efficiency of mini-fermentation box to ferment small quantities of cocoa beans.

Abstract

A mini- fermentation box was developed that successfully fermented small quantities of wet beans as low as 200 kg. The minibox fermented beans produce bean quality and flavor characteristics similar to beans fermented in conventional fermentation box. The minibox was released by the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea and now enables majority of the smallholder farmers to ferment and sell dried beans, and receive maximum benefits, unlike selling wet beans in the past for a lower price.