Pieter Reichert addressing the gathering while the traditional authorities look on
Cargill says it has doubled the amount of cocoa sourced in Ghana after establishing its Licensed Buying Company (LBC) model.
It said over 13,000 cocoa farmers are now benefiting from the initiative, up by 30 percent from 10,000 a year ago.
This has allowed Cargill to make its second sustainable premium payment of GH¢4million to farmers since establishing its own direct sourcing model in 2016.
Such premium payments currently represent the highest payments paid per bag of certified cocoa in the industry for the 2017/2018 crop season in Ghana.
This was announced at a ceremony in Sefwi-Bekwai in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District of the Western Region on Tuesday.
Pieter Reichert, Managing Director of Cargill’s Cocoa and Chocolate business in Ghana, commented: “Farmers are recognizing that as well as a higher income, our approach offers them a wide range of support services to help them improve the quality and quantity of cocoa beans produced. Such services, delivered under our Cargill Cocoa Promise, include one-on-one agricultural coaching, farmer field schools, high quality seedlings and resources for pest and disease management. The model benefits everyone in the supply chain – farmers, whose livelihoods have improved, Cargill and our customers, who have access to more certified cocoa.”
Additionally, the LBC is fully e-Money enabled.
This allows Cargill to pay farmers directly by electronic transfer, ensuring the money reaches the grower swiftly, safely and accurately.
Currently operating in seven districts of the Western North (Awaso, Anhwiaso, Wiawso, Asawinso) and Ashanti (Nyinahin, Effiduase and Ampenim), the success of the LBC has led to four further districts joining the initiative for the next crop season.
This brings to eleven, the total number of districts in which Cargill Kokoo Sourcing operates.
Under the LBC model, Cargill sources and purchases cocoa directly from certified farmers while building stronger relationships both with them and their communities.
Present at the event were the Director of Research at COCOBOD, Vincent Akomeah; Western Regional Manager of CHED, Samuel Asafo; a representative of GhIPSS and representatives from partner banks, as well as the Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area and the Chief of Sefwi Asafo.