Cameroon Cocoa Certification Incentives to Farmers Is a “Too Late"

Cocoa certifications programs were launched in Cameroon in 2011. In 2020, the incentives budget was estimated at around USD 5,000K. Despite the incentives, most beneficiaries are not satisfied with its untimely payment. Just like any other activity, cocoa farming needs to be planned. The low crop season is when farmers have to provide mechanical (clearing, pruning) and chemicals (fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides) treatments to their farms. They usually need non-negligible amounts for that. From past experiences, incentives have always been paid after September.
According to farmers, if they were paid a lot earlier, it would enable them to better prepare their farms and increase their production. Moreover, when it is paid in October, farms are already generating some revenues, thereby making farmers less vulnerable.
In some cases, part of this money is even used to pay back interests accrued from loans they had received from loan sharks to take care of their farms. In order to improve the production for all the cocoa beans stakeholders, It will be more appreciated if these incentives are paid earlier (preferably before September) when cocoa farmers are the most vulnerable.