Engaged Chocolate Manufacturers Bring a New Dawn to Cocoa Farming in Cameroon

The club of engaged chocolate manufacturers has embarked on a journey to create cocoa processing excellence centers in producing areas of Cameroon. They have created eleven centers where “post-harvest” standard cocoa beans processing is carried out in some cooperatives. For the past two cocoa seasons, farmer members of these centers have stopped going through fermentation and drying activities. They harvest and supply fresh beans, which the center then handles to produce cocoa of excellence, and at the end of the process, they still receive a minimum price of EUR 1,676 per MT. This price is close to 30% higher than the price paid for conventional cocoa. Considering the labor reduction and the increase in their pay, it is certain that more farmers will continue to join the program and contribute to improving the overall quality and quantity of cocoa beans produced by this origin.