Nicolas Demerse-Labrousse
SOCODEVI Ghana, a Canadian non-governmental organization of cooperatives that shares expertise with partners in developing countries, has assured cocoa farmer groups in the country that they are committed to improving their livelihoods.
Country-Director of SOCODEVI Ghana, Nicolas Demerse-Labrousse, stated that the organization has engaged many cooperative groups in the cocoa value chain to help develop an inclusive, self-sustainable, and profitable enterprise that contributes tangibly to reducing the vulnerability of families in the sector.
Mr. Demerse-Labrousse further indicated that the organization has supported some 150 communities in the Ashanti and Western North regions with capacity building and training on cooperation development.
“We engage these farmer groups to understand the principles of cooperation and opportunities they bring to boost Ghana’s cocoa production,” he said.
“We also support them in generating extra income by providing the means to venture into vegetable farming, snail, and fish farming to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Speaking about empowering women cocoa farmers, Mr. Demerse-Labrousse said the organization is keen on supporting women groups hence the initiation of the ‘TogtHER’ cocoa communities’ initiative.
The TogtHER project funded by Global Affairs Canada was designed to close the gender gap in the cocoa sector, address environmental issues such as climate change, and promote agro forestry.
Mr. Demerse-Labrousse said the project aims to empower women and young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 years with training programs on collective savings, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion, while contributing to the sustainable resilience of the cocoa sector.
“This project also aims at reducing gender gaps in the cocoa sector, so that cocoa cooperatives can become more inclusive, foster women and youth’s equal and effective participation, and truly sustain their empowerment,” he added.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke