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Cocoa is essential to the lives of millions of smallholders. Fyna Ashwath finds out how increased partnerships and improved working conditions for farmers will help realise the enormous potential of the world’s major producers. Long-term financing and training are necessary to help cocoa farmers advance.
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S A PRODUCER of around 70% of the world’s cocoa, West Africa, mainly Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, is poised to transform its cocoa sector, with government initiatives to boost productivity as well as private-sector efforts in this direction. For instance, the Ghana Cocoa Board , as well as institutions including the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency welcomed the disbursement of US$200mn to boost cocoa productivity, in June 2020. In September 2020, the government of Ghana announced a 28% increase in the guaranteed producer price it pays to farmers for the 2020/21 growing season. The price rise is due to the
“The impact of the measures the government has put in place will start being felt in a few years, with the expected rise in volumes of production,” said Hajia Adamu-Zibo. 18 African Farming - January/February 2021
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Enhancing the cheer of cocoa farming implementation of a price floor of US$ 2,600 per tonne and a living income differential of US$400 per tonne, to put more money into the hands of farmers. Cote d’ Ivoire is taking similar steps. In Cameroon, the AfDB committed to provide funding to the Institute of Agriculture Research for Development, where research is focused on creating adapted seed varieties. The strengthening of the industry continues to depend on initiatives for better partnerships as well as improved working and living conditions for farmers. Partnering for growth Ghanaian company, Federated Commodities, is exploring global partnerships to tap more into the global cocoa industry. “We are looking to seal important contacts in Europe and America as we seek sustainability partnerships that will be of mutual benefit. In Africa, we are looking at maybe getting partners in Cote D’Ivoire as well as South Africa because these are two strong cocoa markets. We possess the knowledge as far as cocoa is concerned and an ideal partner would be someone who has the technical
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