Andean Countries Cocoa Export Support Opportunity (ACCESO)
Project Dates: June 2005-June 2008
Countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
Alliance Members: World Cocoa Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States (CICAD-OAS)
Implementer: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Overview
ACCESO is a regional network of national governments, donor agencies, research institutions, the chocolate industry, and community groups. ACCESO aims to improve competitiveness throughout the entire supply chain from farm to market for cacao in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and increase the number of farming households in those countries producing marketable quality cocoa. To achieve these goals, the network facilitates sharing of resources and best practices to enhance existing country level initiatives and foster the development of new initiatives.
The program promotes the participatory Farmer Field School methodology to train farmers. This is a farmer-directed approach with participants guiding the topics to be covered and engaging in hands-on activities to gain practical experience. In countries where the Farmer Field School approach is an established training technique, ACCESO serves as a coordinating body to ensure a consistent curriculum across programs. In Peru and Bolivia, ACCESO supported the development of standardized protocols for technology transfer.
Program Accomplishments:
- Regional technology transfer and sharing of best practices. ACCESO held three regional workshops in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia for farmers and organizations to receive updated technological information on topics such as pest and disease control, post-harvest handling, unifying Farmer Field School methodology, farmer organizational strengthening, and market access.
- National Coordination and Planning. In Bolivia and Colombia, ACCESO and cocoa stakeholders formed National Coordinating Committees to promote and coordinate among stakeholders. In Bolivia, the committee developed a strategic plan for the cocoa sector. In Colombia, the committee updated the cocoa competitiveness agreement in coordination with the Colombia National Cocoa Council. In Ecuador, ACCESO conducted working meetings with stakeholders to promote strategic planning. In Peru, ACCESO provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture for the development of a National Strategic Plan for Cocoa.
- 3,496 farmers trained in Peru. Farmers received training through the 142 Farmer Field Schools. ACCESO introduced the Farmer Field School approach for cocoa training in Peru. Farmers that graduated from the 2006 Farmer Field Schools have seen an increase in yields from 508 kg/ha to 686 kg/ha and an estimated increase in income from US$571 to US$933.
- Farmer Organizational Development. A total of 130 farmer leaders and facilitators representing 42 farmer organizations participated in workshops where they were trained in post-harvest handling, financial management, cocoa quality and planting. As quality was frequently identified as an area for improvement, ACCESO supported the development of fermenting and drying infrastructure for participating organizations in Ecuador and Peru. This included 5 dryers and 3 fermentation boxes in Ecuador, and 80 individual dryers and 40 fermentation boxes in Colombia.
Success Story: Cocoa is a Growing Business in San Martín, Peru
Success Story: Strengthening Farmer Organizations in the Andes
Success Story: Ecuadorian Farmer Rehabilitates Trees, Raises Income