Trade ministry backs organic cocoa deal to boost farmers’ earnings.

The signing ceremony, chaired by Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, took place under the Cacao Bio 1000 programme, which seeks to promote Cameroonian cocoa through improved quality, traceability, sustainability and marketing. 

The agreement was signed by the cooperative's Executive Council President, Mveng Ateba Sébastien, and Protect First AG's Chief Executive Officer, Ralf Van Deest.

According to the Ministry of Trade, the partnership aims to establish long-term commercial relations between cocoa producers, the cooperative, Protect First AG and international buyers. The arrangement, the ministry said, is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of Cameroonian cocoa while improving its commercial value and the remuneration of farmers.

Under the partnership, Protect First AG intends to promote cocoa produced according to organic farming standards and marketed under Fair Trade certification. 

The ministry disclosed that the organic production component requires farmers to use biological inputs instead of chemical alternatives, while the Fair Trade component seeks to ensure better product prices and transparent distribution of earnings among actors in the cocoa value chain. 

The ministry further explained that the initiative is intended to establish lasting commercial relations rather than facilitate a single cocoa transaction.

It emerged from the signing ceremony that the choice of the Ayos cooperative was attributed to its experience in producing and marketing quality cocoa. 

The cooperative, it was revealed, had previously won a bronze medal at an international cocoa competition organised in Amsterdam.

Speaking at the event, Minister Mbarga Atangana said the initiative aligns with government's policy of improving the quality and competitiveness of agricultural products while ensuring better remuneration for producers. He explained that government's support for the partnership forms part of efforts to strengthen Cameroon's position on the international cocoa market.

The minister expressed hope that the initiative would eventually be extended to more cooperatives and other stakeholders in the cocoa sector. He further stated that government's ambition is to maintain Cameroon's reputation for quality cocoa while securing prices that are at least twice those received by many producers in some of the world's major cocoa-producing countries.

The minister said the government would continue supporting initiatives aimed at improving cocoa quality, commercialisation and producer earnings.

“Cameroonian cocoa remains at the top of the world, and today's ceremony is part of the process of consolidating and sustaining the gains achieved,” Mbarga Atangana concluded.

According to the Ministry of Trade, the Cacao Bio 1000 programme forms part of efforts to strengthen the marketing of Cameroonian cocoa through organic production, international quality standards and sustainable commercial partnerships.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3947 of Thursday October 22, 2026