Cocoa livelihoods program expands to cover more farmers

The second phase of the Cocoa Livelihoods Program is targeting 20,000 farmers within the next four years with interventions to improve yield and incomes of farmers.

The Program seeks to increase cocoa production from the current 400-450kg per hectare to 1000kg/ha in the project areas from 2014–2018.

Activities to be implemented under the program include training farmers in good agricultural practices to increase productivity, access to farm inputs, additional livelihood support and creating market linkages.

“We are training them in food crops – cassava and plantain – and with that if we are able to engage in these additional livelihoods, it will create additional income for them and their households and that would also improve their household food security,” says Vincent Frimpong-Manu, Country Manager of Solidaridad.

Seven thousand farmers should be reached by end of 2014 in cocoa growing districts of Ahafo Ano North and South, Bibiani, Goaso, Nkawie and Nyinahin, he noted.

The scale-up program is a partnership between the World Cocoa Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Noble Resources and Solidaridad, a sustainable development not-for-profit organization.

The program also focuses on the nutrition of community members, especially children.

Nutritionist, Pearl Serlomey, observed children in farming communities often get malnourished during the lean crop season, when there is not enough foodstuff to feed the household.

Pearl, who involved in the implementation of the phase two to the cocoa livelihood program, is advocating improved storage system to ensure all year round access to food.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh