From Lecture to Life: Drawing Plants and Grafting Cacao



     On our 9th day as exchange students at IPB University, we had another exciting and enriching experience that blended classroom learning with practical fieldwork. The day was filled with discovery, skill-building, and bonding with classmates — a perfect blend of science and friendship.


     We began the day with a lecture on Seed Technology alongside our classmates. Our task was to identify various plant samples that were brought to class and sketch them. While working on the activity, I managed to sneak in a quick breakfast since I was feeling quite hungry — luckily, the teacher had already finished the lecture and the atmosphere was relaxed, giving us the freedom to work at our own pace.


     After completing our plant drawings, we headed to the shed for a hands-on grafting activity. Each of us was given a cacao rootstock and a cutter to collect our own scion from a cacao tree. The challenge was to select the right size of scion that would fit well with the rootstock. Once we matched the parts, we carefully joined them so that their vascular tissues (cambium layers) would align and eventually fuse. We used grafting tape to secure the union — this tape protects the graft from dehydration, infection, and physical damage while supporting the healing process.



     Once the grafting was done, we placed our newly grafted plants in a small nursery under the shade of trees. The shade is essential to prevent heat stress that could damage the delicate graft union. We ended the session with a group photo for remembrance — a sweet way to capture yet another milestone in our exchange journey.


     The grafting activity wasn’t just a lesson in plant propagation — it was a chance to connect theory with real-life agricultural practices. After class, Bernice and I went to Sandie and Rodney’s place to enjoy lunch with our friends. It was a simple yet meaningful day filled with learning, laughter, and memories that will surely stay with us long after this exchange program ends.


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