Entry by: Tracey Duffey, World Cocoa Foundation

During my fourth day of travel, Musu and I, along with ACDI/VOCA LIFE field coordinator for Farming as a Business, Mr. Lablah Tabolo; and IITA/STCP FFS Supervisor for Foya District, Andrew Fuah and IITA/STCP FFS Master Trainer, John Ziama traveled to Massabolahum, a cocoa-farming community in the Foya District of Lofa County. It is a day-long journey to travel from Gbargna to Foya – over 270 kms of unpaved road with the last 66 kms being some of the worst roadway that I have ever experienced throughout my 17 years working on the African continent.

The long and difficult journey was worth it, as we were warmly welcomed by over 60 of the members of the Selbelhill Cocoa Farmers Association. The meeting was opened by the Chairlady of the Board of Directors, Madame Tetejay Sesay who is pictured here:

After formal introductions, our visiting delegation was introduced and I was invited to present the World Cocoa Foundation and to explain the purpose of my visit to introduce Musu and her training activity. The following hour of the meeting opened discussion with the farmers who had many pertinent points to raise.

“98% of our community is cocoa” said the first farmer who spoke; therefore they were very encouraged by our visit and to know that the international community is interested in their cocoa farming and farmer association. We had a lively discussion on farmer training, black pod disease, solar drying, storage, warehousing, transportation, pre-financing, and crop diversification – all raised by the farmer association members.

When the meeting was adjourned, we visited the farmer association warehouse and one member’s cocoa farm. The farmers were proud to show me their collection of cocoa from the members and how they are now using the materials provided to them through the ACDI/VOCA LIFE program, including a moisture meter, digital scale, platform scale, and probe.