More than 17,615 farmers in Ghana will benefit from a US$1.07mn premium package under the Nestlé Cocoa Plan (NCP), which is a part of Nestlé’s aim to develop cocoa farming communities in the region
Through its implementing partners, Cocoanect and Ecom Agro industrial Corp Ltd, Nestlé will pay each farmer US$2.89 per certified bag, which is about 14.3 per cent increment on the US$2.48 paid in 2017. The package is effective from July 2018.
Nestlé has rewarded selected farmers during the launch of the package with materials such as Wellington boots, Cutlass, sprayers, pruners and solar television set for their commitment towards fulfilling NCP major pillars – better farming, better cocoa, better lives.
Under the NCP, Nestlé aims to improve the lives of cocoa farmers and the quality of their produce, in line with the company’s purpose of enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. To achieve this, Nestlé has collaborated with partners like Ecom, International Cocoa Initiative, Cocoanect and Cocoa Merchants.
Speaking at the launch of the premium package, Nana Agyeman Badu, chief of Mankraso/Kunsu in the Ashanti Region, congratulated all farmers under the plan for taking the necessary steps to get certified. He further encouraged all farmers to take capacity building training seriously and urged them to adopt good agronomic practices learnt from the workshops to improve their yields.
Fatih Ermis, head of agricultural services at Nestlé Central West Africa region, said, “At Nestlé, we have an ambition to help improve 30mn livelihoods of people directly connected to our business by 2030 through our Agricultural focused projects such as the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and the Nestlé Cereals Plan.”
“This premium payment which our farmers are benefiting from will help motivate them to produce quality cocoa that will meet our production standards, help increase local sourcing and contribute to developing the local economy,” Ermis added.
The certified farmers across five regions including Ashanti, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Western and Central Regions have benefitted from the NCP, which also contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such no poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, decent work and economic growth and responsible consumption and reproduction.
