Fairtrade International’s Post

The cocoa price has recently skyrocketed by 70% 💹. Yet the farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana – accounting for 60% of global cocoa production – do not benefit from this increase. Michaël de Groot and Bas Evers from Rabo Foundation explain why and how Rabo Foundation plays a role in bringing about change. They believe it’s crucial for African farmers to develop new income models. For example, not only harvesting the bean but also adding value by processing it themselves. They also see potential in new income models where farmers intercrop cocoa trees with bananas and yams. This example of agroforestry provides additional income 💰, promotes cocoa tree growth 🌱, and enhances biodiversity 🐝 .   Read the full story to learn more about Rabo Foundation’s precise efforts in supporting farmers https://lnkd.in/ern5bUhs #cacao #IvoryCoast #Ghana

The cocoa price has recently skyrocketed by 70%. Yet the farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana – accounting for 60% of global cocoa production – do not benefit from this increase. Michaël de Groot and Bas Evers from Rabo Foundation explain why and how Rabo Foundation plays a role in bringing about change. They believe it’s crucial for African farmers to develop new income models. For example, not only harvesting the bean but also adding value by processing it themselves. They also see potential in new income models where farmers intercrop cocoa trees with bananas and yams. This example of agroforestry provides additional income, promotes cocoa tree growth, and enhances biodiversity. Read the full story to learn more about Rabo Foundation’s precise efforts in supporting farmers.

The cocoa price has recently skyrocketed by 70%. Yet the farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana – accounting for 60% of global cocoa production – do not benefit from this increase. Michaël de Groot and Bas Evers from Rabo Foundation explain why and how Rabo Foundation plays a role in bringing about change. They believe it’s crucial for African farmers to develop new income models. For example, not only harvesting the bean but also adding value by processing it themselves. They also see potential in new income models where farmers intercrop cocoa trees with bananas and yams. This example of agroforestry provides additional income, promotes cocoa tree growth, and enhances biodiversity. Read the full story to learn more about Rabo Foundation’s precise efforts in supporting farmers.

Women Empowerment in Agricultural Value Chains; A remedy for Postharvest Loss Reduction. Postharvest losses of commodities is a serious global concern. The FAO reported that the volume of losses of commodities recorded annually in Africa alone is equivalent to the total amount of foreign aid into Africa in a space of 10 years! Did you get that? Some scholars have therefore suggested that if African countries focus on reducing Postharvest loses alone, they can end the serious food insecurity issues on the continent in a short time. But here is my concern! With the exception of the mainstream farming activities which are dominated by men, women are the main Postharvest chain actors of most agricultural commodities worldwide. Women are at the forefront of harvesting, dehusking, shelling, drying, winnowing, aggregation and marketing. Is it therefore not prudent that any policy initiative to promote Postharvest loss reduction focuses on Empowering Women along these commodity value chains? This has been my focus for the past 3 years of my doctoral studies at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. The insights are intriguing and I am hopeful to share more lessons with you. In the meantime, feed your curiosity with our recent publication on “The synergy between farmers' declaration of qualitative and quantitative maize postharvest losses in the transition agroecological zone of Ghana” https://lnkd.in/eKYewFPP #womenempowerment #genderinclusivity #womeninagriculture #WFP #IFPRI #WIAD

Yesterday's Financial Times Big Read echoed back conversations and strategies within projects ongoing in ASH Culinaria's charitable support of farming in the Niger Delta region and expands upon sustainable practices and intangible cultural heritage related to biodiversity within our past Special Reports for the Sustainable Restaurant Association. I hope those in Ministries of Agriculture/Development/Trade across the African continent read this article which informs how domestic food security can be assured and in the longer term, international trade can be facilitated. With so much arable land, indigenous food crop species and human capital to farm, the continent should not be a big net importer of food. With the application of logic and reasonable effort to deploy better seed varieties and greater use of fertilisers, communities, societies and economies can be transformed! #agriculture #farming #biodiversity #sustainability #foodsecurity #domesticproduction #internationaltrade #africa #breadbasket

📣 Call for Proposals: Cooperation with the private sector on Sustainable Soya Production in Zambia 📣 The Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project invites Zambian private sector companies in the Soya beans value Chain (preferably organic) to apply for our Call for Proposals (More details on the opportunity are in the attached document) and on Leverist: https://lnkd.in/dtkJgZKr. We are looking for partners to foster partnerships among cooperatives, smallholder farmers, and private companies to implement deforestation-free practices and pilot tools to meet the European Union’s deforestation-free regulation for potential exports to EU Markets. Applications are open to Private sector registered and operating companies in Zambia's soya beans value chain, including seed companies, traders, and processors. Applications can be on individual basis or as a consortium. Embrace sustainability and make a global impact! #SustainableAgriculture #DeforestationFree #ZambiaSoy #EUCompliance #CallForProposals #EUDR #Privatesectorcooperation

Nawa Cacao Area – Nawa – Ivory Coast Nawa Cacao Area. This region in Ivory Coast plays a pivotal role in the country's cacao production, significantly contributing to Ivory Coast's status as the world's leading cacao producer. This area is characterized by extensive plantations vital to both local and national economies, representing a significant portion of the country's GDP. Production in Soubré highlights the challenges and opportunities within Ivorian agriculture, emphasizing the importance of sustainable farming practices in the cocoa sector. https://lnkd.in/dapakPhn #AGRICULTURALAREAS

In sub-Saharan Africa, the female share of the agricultural labour force is the highest in the world. Farm Africa is training farmers to develop the agricultural and business skills they need to adapt to these challenging times and replenish the food basket. https://lnkd.in/dY3cFa6Q

Nawa Cacao Area – Soubre – Ivory Coast Nawa Cacao Area. This region in Ivory Coast plays a pivotal role in the country's cacao production, significantly contributing to Ivory Coast's status as the world's leading cacao producer. This area is characterized by extensive plantations vital to both local and national economies, representing a significant portion of the country's GDP. Production in Soubré highlights the challenges and opportunities within Ivorian agriculture, emphasizing the importance of sustainable farming practices in the cocoa sector. https://lnkd.in/dapakPhn #AGRICULTURALAREAS

Future harvesting with SCF in Rwanda  Beneficiaries of our Selecta Coffee Fund program in Rwanda have been harvesting coffee cherries!  Coffee cherry harvesting runs from April to July each year. Farmers handpick ripe cherries weekly to ensure the best quality.  Harvesting is labor-intensive, involving family members and hired workers.   Farm owners and workers record the harvested quantities, providing baseline data for coffee production. The plan is to use this data to help measure the impact of new agricultural practices for a more sustainable future!    Together, we’re prioritizing quality, sustainability and productivity.    #Selecta #Sustainability #ESG #Coffee