Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Côte d'Ivoire
Project Dates: Pilot Phase 2003-2006, Phase II: 2007-2011
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Funders: Core Program - US Agency for International Development (USAID), World Cocoa Foundation, industry, and FDPCC (Ivorian Cocoa Fund); Sustainable Production of Certified Cocoa – USAID and Kraft Foods; Cocoa Quality Improvement Project – TransFair USA
Implementers: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (manager, production, marketing, policy); SOCODEVI (cooperative development); ANADER (Ivorian National Extension Agency/Cocoa Quality Improvement Project); Rainforest Alliance (Sustainable Production of Certified Cocoa Project)
Overview
The Sustainable Tree Crops Program in Côte d’Ivoire is active in 11 districts, mostly in the Eastern Region, and works with 14 cocoa cooperatives. The program focuses on promoting the sustainable production and marketing of quality cocoa, improving marketing channel efficiency, raising incomes for small-scale producers and creating environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically sustainable cocoa production systems. The Sustainable Production of Certified Cocoa Project incorporates Rainforest Alliance standards into the Farmer Field School integrated crop, pest and quality management curriculum. The project began in 2006 and focuses on the Issia and Daloa Districts. The TransFair USA Cocoa Quality Improvement Project aims to increase incomes for small producers through increased access to the Fair Trade market in the US, Europe and Japan. The project works with two cooperatives in the Daloa and San Pedro Districts.
Program Objectives:
- Develop farmer organizations’ capacity as agricultural enterprises and improve marketing efficiency
- Integrate the production and marketing of certified cocoa
- Develop local institutional capacity to provide production and marketing support services
Progress to Date:
- 11,082 farmers directly trained through 321 Farmer Field Schools. Through the participatory Farmer Field School approach, farmers were trained in integrated crop and pest management, cocoa regeneration techniques, and quality improvement. The curriculum also includes sensitization to child labor and HIV/AIDS. Training was conducted by 71 facilitators including 20 extension workers from ANADER and 51 members of the 19 cooperatives partnering on the STCP core program and sister projects. Of the graduating farmers, 917 farmers from 3 cooperatives were trained in Rainforest Alliance standards and established 13 shade tree nurseries including 41,873 shade trees. Also amongst the graduating farmers were 672 participants in the Cocoa Quality Improvement Project. In addition, a total of 22,183 farmers were trained by the Farmer Field School graduates through guided farmer-to-farmer dissemination of information.
- 142 farmers trained through Video Viewing Clubs. 16 videos covering similar topics to the Farmer Field Schools were produced. The Clubs, designed for women cocoa farmers, were held in 6 communities facilitated by 2 women and 1 man.
- 690 farmers participating in mineral fertilizer study. In partnership with Yara, Farmer Field School participants are evaluating the impact of mineral fertilizer on 22 demonstration plots.
- 8,528 farmers established cocoa nurseries. After participating in nursery management training, farmers from 14 cooperatives established nurseries for 7,108 hectares of planting.
- 34 demonstration plots established. 850 farmers received training in regeneration of deforested land on the 34 plots, and 425 farmers received training on rehabilitation and intensification on 17 of the plots.
Success Story: Increasing Farm Productivity and Strengthening Farmer Organizations
Success Story: Science in the Field - Farmer Participatory Research Yields Results
Success Story: Production of Quality Cocoa Supports Children's Education
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Overview of the Sustainable Tree Crops Program