encouraging sustainable, responsible cocoa growing

Blog Entry: Bill Guyton

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor contracted with the Payson Center at Tulane University, to study efforts by industry and West African governments to address labor practices on West African cocoa farms. The first report from the Payson Center was issued yesterday: http://payson.tulane.edu/.

It's a thorough look at the issue: what the partners have achieved and what remains to be done. While I may not agree with every assessment or recommendation they offer, the seriousness and depth of their approach is welcome. To read our statement, click here.

The report comes at an important time for our work in West Africa -- what may be a "threshold" moment. Last week, the 12th World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting brought together over 220 experts -- a record audience -- to share knowledge on improve support to cocoa farmers and their families. There was tremendous energy and excitement throughout the two-day event, as we heard about many the changes taking place in cocoa communities. Although realistic about the challenges ahead, there was an optimistic tone to the meeting.

I've felt a similar sense of optimism during my recent visits to Ghana and the Ivory Coast. There are signs of real progress in many places. A farmer field school drawing a record number of attendees -- lured by "word of mouth" from other farmers who came through the program. Individual farmers who share their stories of how, through improved farmer techniques, they can better afford school supplies for their children, a cell phone to stay in touch with relatives, or much-needed medicine. Better schools. Communities working together. It's a huge change from where we were at the start of the decade.

Looking ahead, we have a lot of work to do. But if we continue to attract the energy, support and engagement we're seeing right now, we can -- and will -- make a difference in the lives of millions who depend upon cocoa farming through partnerships with governments, NGOs, technical experts, and chocolate company supporters.

Entry: Bill Guyton

Yesterday, the World Cocoa Foundation and the Africa Society hosted a symposium at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on "Evaluating the Progress of Education in Africa: Different Perspectives". Over 100 education and development experts registered for the session which provided an opportunity to explore some of the obstacles and successes of education programs in Africa.

I was on the first panel, along with Dr. Sarah Moten of USAID/Africa Education Initiative and Dr. Gail Ifshin, Executive Director of the Discovery Channel Global Educational Program. As in other recent programs, I highlighted the new public-private partnership, supported by USAID, World Cocoa Foundation members, and the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Dr. Moten and Dr. Ifshin each discussed the need to “take education to communities” rather than focusing only on urban areas. There is an ever growing need for teacher training programs and investment in resource learning centers in rural areas.

The second panel focused on “Reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of Achieving Universal Primary Education”. The distinguished panelists for this session included Vivian Lowery Derryck/AED, Gene Sperling/Senior Fellow for Economic Policy-Council on Foreign Relatoins, and Yolanda Richardson/CEDPA. They challenged the audience to consider even higher goals of universal secondary education and beyond, and look at creative ways of partnering with NGOs and the private sector, as well as encouraging policy reforms on education.

The final panel discussed “Why is the Development of Education in Africa Globally Important, and whose Responsibility is It”? Leon Collins/Phelps Stokes Fund, Almaz Zwede/Howard University Professor, and Ruth Mufute/Africare, stressed the importance of coordinating educational programs, and making sure that program efforts complement and support the National Education Plans of African countries. A summary of the forum was prepared following the meeting.

For more information on the good work of the Africa Society, I encourage you to visit their website.

Entry: Charlie Feezel, World Cocoa Foundation

Hi all. Here are a few notes from my trip in Côte d’Ivoire. After a very good meeting with the Chief of the Minister of Education’s Cabinet, Vicki Walker of WInrock International and I visited a school in Adzopé where Winrock folks operate an agriculture club. The program includes courses in agriculture, health and leadership. From there, Fanny Saraho of IFESH and I drove to Dramkro near Abengourou for a town meeting. We talked about the IFESH functional literatacy program and other projects the village might undertake. Near the end of the meeting Chief Konate said, via an interlocutor, he wanted to give me a plot of land and make me part of his kin. I have never been given such a momentous gift and was quite honored. I accepted the land and asked that the parcel be set aside as the place where the people of the village build their school. The chief accepted the idea saying that he was happy with the agreement.

Photo: A literacy tutor leads a functional literacy class in Côte d’Ivoire.

Entry: Bill Guyton

I recently received an email from a student who is researching cocoa support programs and organizations. She writes "what is the difference between World Cocoa Foundation, the International Cocoa Initiative and Transfair"?

First of all, it is important to note that all three of these organizations are working to help cocoa growing communities. We all share a commitment to improving the quality of life for cocoa farmers, their families and the communities in which they live. We are all active on the ground, in cocoa farming villages.

However, each organization has a unique focus and approach.

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) (www.worldcocoa.org), a 501(c) 3 organization, was established in 2000 to support cocoa and their families in West Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia . The WCF is focused on helping cocoa farmers grow cocoa in an economically viable, socially responsible, environmentally friendly manner. Through partnerships with host country governments, NGOs and technical experts, the WCF works with cocoa farmers to address the many challenges cocoa farmers and their communities face. WCF also works with researchers to help over come some of the disease and pest pressures that destroy a third of the crop annually.

WCF-supported programs help cocoa farmers earn more for their crop; improve education in cocoa farming communities, and protect the environment. These efforts have benefited more than 200,000 cocoa farmers to date – raising farmer incomes by 20-50 percent, reducing pesticide use and encouraging safe, responsible labor practices.

The WCF is supported by 60+ member companies from 20 countries, most of which are involved in the making of cocoa-based products like chocolate.

In sum; the WCF works to support economic and social development in cocoa farming communities, as well as environmental stewardship.

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) (www.cocoainitiative.org) was established in 2002, as part of the “Protocol” agreement to address the worst forms of child labor in cocoa farming. Today, the ICI is the leading organization focused on labor issues on cocoa farms. A foundation, the ICI works with local partners in Ghana and the Ivory Coast to empower communities to tackle labor issues on the cocoa farm. They undertake capacity building of key organizations both in the private and public sector and support appropriate policy toward the eventual elimination of child labor.

The ICI is a unique partnership between individual chocolate companies, processors and civil society (NGOs, organized labor).

In sum: the ICI is focused specifically on labor issues on cocoa farms, and works with various parties including directly with communities to reduce unacceptable labor practices.

TransFair USA (www.transfairusa.org) is a 501(c) 3 third party organization that certifies products, as “Fair Trade”, based on a specific set of progressive social, economic, and environmental sourcing guidelines, which are established by the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International. In Cocoa, these sourcing guidelines are designed to assist small farmers in improving their incomes, competitiveness, and working conditions.

In addition to certifying and identifying specific products as “Fair Trade” sourced, TransFair USA also has a producer services unit that works with development banks, foundations, and local partners on direct farmer support initiatives and community projects designed to raise farmer income levels by improving cocoa quality and salability, as well as general community and cooperative infrastructure.

In sum: Transfair is a certifying organization, on behalf of the “fair trade” program.

While each organization has its own mission, there are areas in which we collaborate. In West Africa, for example, WCF-supported programs to help cocoa farmers are being coordinated with the ICI’s work to empower communities on labor issues. Transfair is working with World Cocoa Foundation partners in Cote d’Ivoire.

While it can get a little confusing at times, we believe that a sustained effort, across not one but several organizations, is that much more beneficial to cocoa farmers and their families.

Entry: Bill Guyton

We are pleased to share with you a new video, sponsored by WCF entitled: "Teaching Skills and Improving Lives". The video was produced by Kwame Clement and Welma Redd of The African World TV, and filmed in Ghana with collaboration from the Ghana Cocoa Board, Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, and program partners. We hope you will enjoy seeing the Farmer Field School sessions, viewing the teacher training institute, and learning about new activities to strengthen malaria and HIV/AIDS education.

Please let us know your impressions.

Entry: Chris Okafor, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture/Sustainable Tree Crops Program Nigeria

I am Chris Okafor, the Nigeria Country Manager of the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). On 24th November 2007, I joined the league of World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) award recipients. The honor which is in recognition of my dedication to sustainable cocoa development in Nigeria was announced and conferred on me at a reception organized for the participants at the 12th WCF partnership meeting held at Westin Hotel, Washington DC. Reflecting on the honor thereafter, I feel strongly that the award not only underscores the importance that the WCF attaches to sustainable livelihoods for cocoa producers but it is also a challenge to STCP-Nigeria to do more of what it has done so far. It is evident that it took the commitment, passion and compassion of the leadership of WCF to recognize the positive changes STCP-Nigeria is inducing in the cocoa farming communities in Nigeria.

Clearly, sustainable cocoa production can only be attained if the thousands of smallholder farmers that dot the cocoa belt of West and Central Africa derive sustainable livelihoods from the crop. Since 2003, STCP-Nigeria has been working with national partners, as in other STCP focal countries, to develop and demonstrate a number of approaches and mechanisms that ensure that farmers not only reduce the money they shell out for farming but also put more money into their pockets. Using the platform of the new approaches, STCP-Nigeria has equally shown that farmers can be relied upon as partners in management of natural resources and mobilization against unacceptable social practices like child labor. For example, the farmer field school (FFS) approach has been effectively used to significantly enhance productivity of cocoa farms in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. The introduction of FFS in cocoa production in West and Central Africa by STCP, can be explained in the words of the legendary Mahatma Ghandhi, "If the cause is right, the means will come." The WCF, USAID and other stakeholders got the cause right in 2002 when they met in Accra to establish STCP. The STCP hosted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, based in Ibadan, Nigeria developed the means over of a period of 3 years (2003-2005).

Today, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has adopted the FFS approach as a means of training cocoa farmers. And more importantly, cocoa farmers themselves are mobilizing in their larger numbers and raising resources to finance FFSs to learn good practices in cocoa production in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Interestingly, this is happening at a time when public expenditures on extension services are declining. The farmers are happy and riding the crest of a new wave of group learning in cocoa production to establish cooperative societies in order to maximize their incomes through collective marketing. Some government agencies are excited, watching and sometimes wondering; ‘what will be our role in this unfolding scenario?’

STCP is very clear about how sustainability can be attained in cocoa farming communities in the sub-region. It is a long term transformation process that will lift a substantial proportion of cocoa farmers out of poverty through cocoa farming, diversify marginal ones into commercially viable alternative crops or community-based income generating activities, supported by efficient commodity marketing chains and robust policy environment.

Therefore, the award to me is a clarion call to more action. STCP-Nigeria thanks WCF leadership for the recognition and uses this opportunity to extend its hands of fellowship and partnership to development investors. We must sustain the ability of cocoa farming communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods through economic growth, poverty reduction and food security.

Photo: WCF President Bill Guyton, Chris Okafor, and Clive Barnes of Nestle.

Entry: Tracey Duffey, World Cocoa Foundation and Josephine Ramos, Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines

A favorite part of my job with the World Cocoa Foundation is to spend time in the field meeting with cocoa farmers in their communities, learning from their experiences of farmer field school trainings, and visiting with our many partners that work together to help the farmers. This past week, I had an unforgettable visit to several cocoa producing sites of the Philippines. I spent the week with staff of the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil - a member of WCF) who arranged my schedule of visits. We visited numerous sites of the SUCCESS Alliance Phase II project managed by ACDI/VOCA with CocoaPhil as an implementer.

I asked Josephine Ramos, the Field Operations Manager of CocoaPhil to share her impressions of our visits. Here is Josephine pictured at one of the fermentories we visited that will receive assistance from the SUCCESS Alliance project this year.

“It has always been a wish for an industry association like CocoaPhil to be linked and establish partnerships with development organizations and the global markets, not to mention, of finding ‘big brothers’ because the CocoaPhil alone cannot solely undertake such huge tasks of developing the industry.

This was realized with our membership to WCF starting in 2006, and as we took pride of the presence of the WCF President, Bill Guyton when we launched the Philippine Cocoa Industry Roadmap in October 2006, we refer this connection as a gateway to wider opportunities for information exchanges, new and practical farming and quality production technologies, market linkages, and leveraging of resources, among others that are essential in sustaining our efforts in building up the Philippine Cocoa industry.

The 8-day visit of Ms. Tracey Duffey, WCF Program Coordinator, that concluded on 26 November is particularly rewarding. I joined Tracey on this trip where each day was spent on meetings with cocoa farmers, seeing their farms and other production activities, and discussions on aspects that could help them improve and expand cacao production, with the end in view of better family conditions. The field visit activities, most especially with the WCF, and with Tracey communicating on the WCF’s outreach activities, comes as reassurance to our farmers that they too are linked with their counterparts in the global cacao industry, not only in terms of finding support, but also of recognizing their efforts and sharing them with the rest of the cacao farmers in the world.

On behalf of CocoaPhil, and especially the Filipino cacao farmers, we extend great appreciation of the support and attention of the WCF, and we are looking forward to continuing the outreach programs towards our common goal of improving conditions for cacao growing communities in the Philippines.” - Josephine Ramos, CocoaPhil

Edward David, President of CocoaPhil and Josephine Ramos and I spoke with members of several cocoa clubs who joined us for a meeting on Sunday to discuss their activities and progress. The cocoa club members asked very good questions about market linkages and quality improvement regarding their cacao.

Though you cannot join me in the cocoa farms in the Philippines, I hope this entry helps to provide you an idea of my visit. Tomorrow I will introduce you to one of the CocoaPhil Field Technicians.

Entry: Tracey Duffey, World Cocoa Foundation and Lowell Lozada, CocoaPhil Field Technician

In continuation of my trip to the Philippines, my final field visit over the weekend was to Dipolog City a province of Zamboanga Del Norte. In addition to my CocoaPhil colleagues, Mr. Edward David and Mrs. Josephine Ramos, along with the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Mr. Rogelio Balladares, I was accompanied by the Western Mindanao Field Technician of Cocoa Phil, Mr. Lowell B. Lozada.

Here is a picture of Lowell.

Lowell shared the following experience with me as to how he got started with cacao and became a Cacao Field Technician:

“I was invited by a CocoaPhil member to join the Training of Trainers on cocoa production under the Success Alliance Phase 1 project in 2004. Afterwards, I planted cacao to apply the knowledge that I learned during the training undertaken. At the same time, I shared my knowledge with fellow cacao growers engaged in cacao production in our area.

I was so interested to explore my knowledge learnt that earlier this year I applied to be a cacao field technician. Presently I’m working with CocoaPhil as a field technician where I provide technical assistance to our cacao farmers, do the monitoring of their nursery operations, and monitor the monthly trainings conducted by the training facilitators for the farmer field schools.

Photo: An example of my work is included in this photo with me talking with Training Facilitator Edgar Uycoco in Rizal in Zamboanga del Norte and reviewing the rows of seedling clones in their nursery.

I cover three provinces specifically Basilan, Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte which is composed of a number of municipalities and two cities, Dapitan City and Zamboanga. For each Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte provinces there are 5 training facilitators who conduct monthly farmer field schools. For Zamboanga City we have one, and three in Basilan province.

Photo: Training Facilitators Angela Patac and Ray Mondol with me as I review their monthly training status sheets of the farmers trained and topics covered per training session

As a designated cacao field technician in western Mindanao, I do really love working with the groups of cacao growers by rendering my efforts to assist them in growing cacao.

I’m looking forward to attaining the objectives of the project and expanding the coverage to more farmers who can benefit from the technology, markets and overall economic development of the cacao industry in the Philippines. I wish for more support to come in the years ahead.

I welcome your comments and questions to my blog entry and your impressions of cacao farming in the Philippines.” - Lowell Lozada, CocoaPhil