Improving production of quality cocoa: Minister urges stakeholders to brainstorm on best practices.

This was during the third Steering Committee of the Cocoa Development Support Project, COCOA-DSP, which he presided in Yaounde.

In his opening speech, Minister Mbairobe disclosed that COCOA-DSP was put in place to contribute to increase national production of quality cocoa in order to guarantee the sustainability of cocoa economies within the next five years.

This project, MINADER boss detailed, aims to support structures dedicated to the production and distribution of high-performance plant material and contribute to the improvement of farm productivity and the production of quality cocoa.

The minister said that the COCOA-DSP intervention logic is based on a complete analysis of the sub-sector in line with the objectives set by the National Development Strategy, NDS30, and those of the Rural Sector Development Strategy, RSDS/NAIP. 

The COCOA-DSP, the minister also stressed, is an operational platform of the State’s action through MINADER for the development of cocoa farming.

Minister reiterates gov’t commitment

The meeting, we gathered, was a follow-up from the first and second sessions of the COCOA-DSP Steering Committee held on August 9, 2022, and August 22, 2023, respectively, where several challenges were highlighted.

Minister Mbairobe said that the government has been working relentlessly to address these issues for sustainable cocoa farming.

These measures, the minister said include access to and availability of quality plant material, improving productivity of existing orchards, improving the quality of cocoa beans produced, access to agricultural funding and the protection of the environment and adapting cocoa farming to climate change.

The minister cited the rehabilitation of over 175 seed farms and the construction of an irrigation system. He also disclosed that they have been able to facilitate producers’ access to traceable quality plant materials.

The minister disclosed that in 2022, they acquired 150,000 seed pods while in 2023, an additional 150,000 seed pots and 814 sachets were acquired. 

They were distributed for a population of 3,750,000 seedlings for a total of 7,500,000 seedlings. These seedlings are mainly intended to densify farms and rejuvenate old cocoa plantations.

Enter SODECAO General Manager

The General Manager of the Cameroon Cocoa Development Corporation, SODECAO, Eko’o Akouafane Jean Claude, said they are poised to ensure a steady supply of quality cocoa plants to producers to boost production.

Eko’o who also doubles as Vice President of the Committee said this shall enable farmers to benefit from the current prices of cocoa which, he said, are already hitting an impressive 3000 FCFA per kilo.

“In the cocoa world, we are facing new economic difficulties. But many people are involved in the production of cocoa due to the price that is progressing. So, we have the obligation to do everything to increase the production and quality of cocoa. That is what we will discuss in our workshop,” Eko’o told reporters.

He also added that: “This will be achieved through the respect of good agricultural practices. We are aware of our role in order to attain our objectives. We have one of the best cocoa in the world”.