| It’s estimated that around a third of the West African cocoa crop is lost through pests and disease. Helping farmers develop farming knowledge and skills improves their cocoa yields (productivity) and thus their income from cocoa.
In West Africa, the Sustainable Tree Crops Programme (STCP) supported by the World Cocoa Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and individual chocolate companies, helps farm families earn more for their cocoa crop. Through a nine month training course, known as “farmer field schools,” farmers learn how to improve their cocoa crop yields – and earn more money.
The training also includes information on social issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria prevention and the appropriate role of children on the farm and farm safety.
Farmers are keen to attend with entire villages turning out in some areas for the interactive sessions.
The STCP also supports the development of co-operatives in the Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Co-operatives help farm families to grow and market their crops more effectively.
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