Farmer Case Study: Fausto Tenazoa Ruiz — Growing Cocoa and Hope in AguaDulce, Ucayali
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, 29-year-old farmer Fausto Tenazoa Ruiz is growing timber
and shade cocoa. But that’s not all—he’s also growing a future for his family, his land, and
his community.
Since joining Plant Your Future, he’s transformed his farm into a thriving agroforestry
system. What was once a degraded cattle ranch is now teeming with life.
Now, not only does his system protect the environment, it also offers long-term income and
food security for his family.
A local farmer with deep roots
Fausto has lived in the remote community of Agua Dulce his entire life. It’s where he began
farming, and it’s where he’s raising his two young children.
His path to agroforestry began with a conversation with a neighbour, Daniel Souza, who told
him about Plant Your Future. Together, they visited an existing project that was flourishing.
“I visited a reforested plot owned by Hugo Vasquez, and it really inspired me,” Fausto
recalls. “The support offered by Plant Your Future made me want to join.”
And with this, it wasn’t long before Fausto began planting native trees and his very first
cocoa seedlings.
Starting with shade cocoa
Fausto hadn’t grown cocoa before joining the programme, but he saw its potential. He knew
it could be a profitable crop, but this was also an investment in his land and livelihood.
“Cocoa is a plant with real potential. It’s long-term, and it brings income to families here,”
Fausto explains.
With technical support and resources from the team, Fausto has planted cocoa for the first
time. He’s also learning how to care for it and, importantly, why growing it alongside other
timber and native tree species—rather than in a monoculture—is a smarter and more resilient
approach in the face of climate change.
What is shade cocoa?
Unlike traditional monoculture cocoa farms, where only cacao trees are planted in dense
rows, this diversified planting model mimics the structure of a natural forest. By combining
cacao with a mix of timber and shade trees, Fausto’s farm supports greater biodiversity. This
includes more birds, insects, and other wildlife, which help create a balanced ecosystem.
Biodiversity also brings practical benefits: mixed plantings can reduce the spread of pests
and diseases, improve soil health, and offer multiple sources of income through timber, fruit,
or other products.
From a climate resilience perspective, diverse agroforestry systems store more carbon, retain
moisture better, and offer natural shade that helps protect cacao trees from heat stress. They
also reduce the risk of total crop failure, since the farmer isn’t relying on just one species. In
short, Fausto isn’t just planting cacao—he’s building a healthier, more sustainable and
climate-smart farm.
Building knowledge and resilience
Still, it hasn’t been easy. Growing trees on degraded pasture lands still comes with many
hurdles. At first, Fausto faced a major challenge: an infestation of “hormigas curuinsi,” a type
of aggressive ant that attacked his young cocoa trees.
And the ants weren’t the only pest, as Fausto has dealt with one of cocoa farming’s biggest
threats: monilia. This is a common fungal disease in the Amazon that devastates fruit yields
if not managed promptly.
Thanks to regular check-ins and support from the technical team, he’s learning how to
manage it and prevent it from spreading.
But Fausto has learned that maintenance in general can be difficult—agriculture certainly
isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Coming through the other side of these challenges is what’s proved that he has the skill and
determination to weather the storms that farmers often face.
As the land changes, so does the life around it
For every challenge Fausto’s faced, he’s also found a cloud with a significant silver lining.
Firstly, working with native trees and sustainable techniques has shifted his outlook:
“It’s made me more mindful of the environment,” he reflects. “Thanks to the trees, I can work
under the shade. I’m improving my soils, and I’m not just thinking short term anymore.”
He says the impact isn’t only visible in his fields—it’s also personal. He feels more motivated
and proud to be recognised as an agroforestry farmer. Wildlife is returning to the area and
his neighbours are starting to notice his success, just as he did when visiting Hugo’s farm
several years ago.
our agronomist, Roy Rojas Dominguez
Looking towards the future
Fausto dreams of turning his land into more than just a productive farm. One day, he hopes
to create a tourism circuit, where visitors can learn about agroforestry, the Amazon, and the
role that sustainable farmers play in protecting it.
He’s also thinking long term about income from carbon credits, which can offer extra
financial stability for farmers who plant and protect trees. Ultimately, Fausto wants his
children—and their generation—to inherit something better.
For Fausto, agroforestry is a pathway to regeneration. And he encourages others to walk in
his footsteps.
To others thinking about joining the programme or starting their cocoa journey, he has a
clear message:
“Think about the future. Agroforestry is a sustainable system that can support your family,
your farm, and future generations.”