Improve Income of Rural Women from Cocoa Production

In the remote community of Waslala farmers produce cocoa. In the past, they were struggling to sell their cocoa and generate a secure income, as they lacked access to markets. Middlemen bought their cocoa at low prices, making cocoa farming an unprofitable  business. Women, who had lost their husbands during the civil war, created their own organisation, which has been promoting education and preventing genderbased violence. The women’s organisation, after having invested in the required infrastructure, now buys cocoa from its members and other cocoa producers, processes and sells the processed beans. In just a few years, the organisation reached a marketed quantity of 40 tonnes, allowing the women to earn a better income. Their midterm strategy will allow the profitability and sustainability of their future business without financial support.