Cargill will invest US $3.25m to develop and expand its farmer training programme and support activities to enable cooperatives to obtain independent UTZ and Rain Forest Alliance certification.
This includes a partnership with Anader, Côte d’Ivoire’s national rural development agency, to support farmer training activities and the distribution of 600,000 cocoa tree seedlings to participating cooperatives to help improve and renew existing cocoa farms.
Greg Page, Cargill chairman and CEO, said: “Côte d’Ivoire remains one of the foremost producers of cocoa in the world, and this agreement strengthens our ongoing commitment to help improve the farming practices and the livelihoods of Ivorian cocoa farmers, as well as support the development of the country’s cocoa sector.”
The intensive 10 month programme for cooperatives and their members focuses on farming techniques and post harvest activities such as pruning, plantation renewal and cocoa fermentation methods. In addition it also stresses broader social aspects, such as the importance of ensuring children’s education and HIV awareness.
In crop year 2011/12 Cargill is forecasting to purchase 50,000 tons of certified cocoa, which will represent cocoa premium payments totalling over US $9m. Over 50% of these payments go directly to farmers with the remainder being invested by the cooperatives to provide assistance to members and to build local community facilities.
Cargill is continuing to work closely with cooperatives to reach its target of 100,000 tons of certified sustainable cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire by 2015.
Source: Cargill
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