Entry by: Tracey Duffey, World Cocoa Foundation
As I round out my last two days in the field visiting cocoa farmer associations, Musu and I met with four farmer associations and two cooperatives in Nimba County.
During the discussions we had with Zoekwadoe Cocoa Farmers Association, Buu-Yao Cocoa Farmers Association and Zokarkiah Cooperative, members shared their experiences and recommendations for additional training to focus on quality, pre-financing, solar drying, and over-aged trees.
Mr. George Lakpor from the Zokarkiah Cooperative stated, “We love your concern for our community and our farmer association, and we promise that whatever training we are provided, that we will ensure that all of our members receive this training.”
In Saclepea-Mah District, we held our last meeting with Kwakerseh Cocoa Farmers Association and Kwalokwakiah Cocoa Farmers Association. As Musu began to explain her cocoa quality training activities, Mr. Zarwolo Konah from Kwakerseh Cocoa Farmers Association immediately interrupted her and called out the “Cocoa Password” - Fermentation, Drying and Sorting. This was the training jointly organized by ACDI/VOCA LIFE and IITA/STCP on cocoa quality control and grading that he received in September 2009. He was so inspired by the training that he has been sharing the knowledge with all of the farmers in his community and within the farmer association. Here is Zarwolo with a sample of his top grade cocoa that he brought from the association’s warehouse:
As I wrap up my visit to Liberia on Monday, I want to thank the cocoa farmer associations, our fellow Musu Flomo and our partners at ACDI/VOCA LIFE and IITA/STCP for making my visit so informative and successful. Meeting with the Liberian cocoa farmers has been a true honor. The farmers are articulate, willing to share experiences and interested to learn more about cocoa and receive additional training.
I have learned a great deal from our meetings and discussions and look forward to working through the World Cocoa Foundation to help strengthen the programs that WCF currently sponsors. With all of our in-country partners and the farmer associations, we will work closely with Musu and help her to share the cocoa quality and market training that she has received from the U.S. I look forward to my next visit and meeting with the farmers to see their improvement in cocoa quality. Their goal is to meet the top grade of international standards which I am certain that they will meet.