encouraging sustainable, responsible cocoa growing

Entry: Bill Guyton

“Socamak” is a farmer cooperative located near Ngoumou, Cameroon with over 500 members. The cooperative was formed in 2003, through the assistance of Italian missionaries to help farmers improve production and marketing of food and cash crops.

Photo: Arriving at Socamak

The Socamak Coop provides improved cocoa, banana, okra and tomato seedlings to its members, in addition to training courses on establishing tree nurseries, intercropping techniques, basic farm management and leadership skills. The tree nurseries at Socamak are supported, in part, by USDA and the Sustainable Tree Crops Program. GTZ (German Development Agency) is also providing training on food crop production.

Photo: Banana nursery with seedlings ready to be planted in association with cocoa and other tree crops.

When I visited the coop in March, I learned more about the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and other benefits provided to Socamak members. One of the interesting FFS modules is on developing “Agricultural Calendars”. Farmers identify members of their family that perform different tasks during each month, as shown in the photo below.

In the calendar, you will notice that children help establish and care for tree nurseries, while their fathers usually clear fields for planting. Women water the tree seedlings, with help from their children. Men apply fertilizers, assisted by water carried by children, in some cases.

Photo: A very healthy cocoa tree nursery at the Sokamak Station.

“Agricultural Calendars” provide an opportunity for farmers to learn about farm safety and the types of farm activities appropriate and not appropriate for children. These include explaining the dangers of 1) pesticide applications, 2) carrying heavy loads, and 3) machete use. Another part of the farmer field school stresses the importance for children to stay in school, and limit the length of time they spend helping with chores on the farm. STCP is developing more advanced training on farm safety that will be included in upcoming Farmer Field Schools in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon.