Success Story: Increasing Farm Productivity and Strengthening Farmer Organizations
In the small village of Pascalkro, 20 km from the Daloa district, the Sustainable Tree Crops Program worked with the local cooperative, Coopérative Agricole FIEDIFOUE, to set up a Farmer Field School for the cooperative’s members. The cooperative is one of three cooperatives participating in the “Sustainable Production of Certified Cocoa” Project which provides farmers with the skills they need to successfully complete the Rainforest Alliance certification process.
Mr. Philippe Douaye Traore, a cocoa farmer from the area, was selected to become the Farmer Field School facilitator. He participated in training sessions on the Farmer Field School approach, Rainforest Alliance standards, and group dynamics.
At the start of the Farmer Field School, the cooperative had only nine members. It now has 30 fully registered members who are proud of their achievements. From the skills gained through the Farmer Field School sessions, members now have better knowledge of their cocoa farms and are able to make sound crop management decisions to improve quality as their farms undergo the Rainforest Alliance certification process.
The farmers will graduate from the Farmer Field School in September. In February 2007, Mr. Martin Meyer of Kraft Foods visited the cooperative with Mr. Robert Yapo Assamoi, STCP-Côte d’Ivoire Country Manager.
Mr. Meyer was impressed by STCP’s ability to improve farmers’ technical skills and the use of the Farmer Field School methodology as a tool to strengthen farmer groups.
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Overview of the Sustainable Tree Crops Program