Bill Gates Foundation to support cocoa farmers
Friday, 5 February 2010
ABIDJAN, Feb 04 (Commodity Online): A Cocoa Livelihoods Programme (CLP) launched here with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 chocolate industry companies is expected to significantly improve the livelihoods of 75,000 cococa farmers in Coted'lvoire by 2014.
The venture is promoted by the World Cocoa Foundation.The programme, first announced in February 2009, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 chocolate industry companies, is expected to significantly improve the livelihoods of 75,000 cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire by 2014.
"Cocoa is a vital component of our economy and a major part of the daily lives of so many people in Cote d'Ivoire. This programme is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with the private sector, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, our colleagues in other cocoa-producing countries, and the World Cocoa Foundation to improve the livelihoods of smallholder cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire," said Gilbert Anoh N'guessan, President of the Coffee-Cocoa Sector Management Committee (CGFCC), Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.
The work in Cote d'Ivoire is part of a larger five-country programme targeting 200,000 cocoa-growing households across Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Liberia. Activities in Cote d'Ivoire will focus on professionalizing farmer organisations, improving production and quality at the farm level, equipping farmers with business skills, promoting diversification of income, and improving access to inputs and support services. The programme will be active in seven departments of Cote d'Ivoire: Dalo, Divo, Issia, Abengourou, San Pedro, Soubre and Duekoue.
The venture is promoted by the World Cocoa Foundation.The programme, first announced in February 2009, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 chocolate industry companies, is expected to significantly improve the livelihoods of 75,000 cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire by 2014.
"Cocoa is a vital component of our economy and a major part of the daily lives of so many people in Cote d'Ivoire. This programme is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with the private sector, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, our colleagues in other cocoa-producing countries, and the World Cocoa Foundation to improve the livelihoods of smallholder cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire," said Gilbert Anoh N'guessan, President of the Coffee-Cocoa Sector Management Committee (CGFCC), Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.
The work in Cote d'Ivoire is part of a larger five-country programme targeting 200,000 cocoa-growing households across Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Liberia. Activities in Cote d'Ivoire will focus on professionalizing farmer organisations, improving production and quality at the farm level, equipping farmers with business skills, promoting diversification of income, and improving access to inputs and support services. The programme will be active in seven departments of Cote d'Ivoire: Dalo, Divo, Issia, Abengourou, San Pedro, Soubre and Duekoue.