To celebrate 10 years of cocoa operations in Côte dIvoire, Cargill has announced that it will partner with ANADER (www.anader.ci/), the national agency for rural development, on a series of projects. The partnership is funding and developing 95 cocoa farmer field schools and provides support to 11 cocoa cooperatives in the country. Cargill has been involved in farmer training initiatives since 2003 and with this partnership now trains some 17,000 farmers in Côte dIvoire.
The partnership with ANADER will provide training for cooperative managers, local farmers and demonstrate best practice in cocoa farming that can lead to higher yields, better quality cocoa and increased incomes.
According to the company, Cargill participates in a number of projects aimed at supporting and promoting the national cocoa industry. The company is a founding member of the UTZ CERTIFIED sustainability programme that aims to independently certify the sustainability of cocoa farming in the country and work with farmer groups to implement agricultural, social and environmental best practice. Cargill also has a partnership with the European Institute for Cooperation and Development to provide educational opportunities.