After pruning, we find that the plantation is without the shade of the coffee trees and we can see that the grass is growing very strongly.
To combat weed growth, there is no other solution than to weed the soil by following the procedure detailed below:
- Utilizaremos el Machete aproximadamente a 5 centímetros del suelo.
- We will selectively pull out aggressive and undesirable weeds from the coffee plantation.
- We will promote noble cover crops such as: Cucaracha and fodder peanuts.
- We will manage shade to control the presence of aggressive weeds.
The brigades have been divided into two groups: one for Finca La Lanza and the other for Los Lirios and structured as follows:
- 1 Foreman
- 10 Labourers for Weeding
We have 22 people working on this activity. It is very difficult for us to carry out this work, because we are in the middle of the rainy season and we can’t work every day, because there are days when so much rain falls that we can’t work.
Each brigade carries out approximately 1 hectare per day, although in the coming weeks we will improve this ratio, because the terrain will not be so rough and it will make weeding easier.
In areas where the coffee trees are more mature, the grass does not grow as strongly, because the coffee tree itself provides shade and does not allow the grass to grow as easily.
At this rate we expect to finish this activity in 6 weeks. But what will happen in 6 weeks? Will we have grass between the coffee trees again? Well, I’m afraid that if the rains and temperatures continue at this rate, we will have grass again. !!!!!
To give us an idea, at the moment the most important item of expenditure is weeding, because it is an activity that will be practically constant throughout the year.
Sometimes I get demoralised and feel like using Herbicide, but for the time being we are going to resist. !!!!