More reasons why you should consume Fairtrade products: How Fairtrade benefits Ghanian cocoa farmers

There is an increasing Worldwide demand for cocoa as a major ingredient to make  chocolate products ; however, this does not neccessary mean that the income for cocoa farmers has equally increased.

During the annual International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) conference in Abidjan where cocoa industry gathers to discuss the future for cocoa, the biggest cocoa farmers’ cooperative in Ghanna called Ghana’s Kuapa Kokoo explains how Fairtrade, democratic organization and farmer empowerment are the key success factors of its operations and the future livelihoods of farmers.

According to the President of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, Christiana Ohene-Agyare, the co-operative exists for the sole benefit of its members and Fairtrade has played a crucial role in helping farmers improve their livelihoods.

“Fairtrade has delivered significant additional income to Kuapa Kokoo and through our democratic processes we have allocated that money. A significant part has been paid directly to our farmer members and to projects that directly benefit them. Without the support and extra income which Fairtrade and our Fairtrade partners deliver, we wouldn’t be here today and cocoa farmers would still have no say in their own futures,” she stated.

Fairtrade gives farmers empowerment in many ways – right from the minimum of being able to elect and trust the person responsible for weighing the cocoa and paying farmers, to having a say in how to run their own organization. But most importantly, Fairtrade has been a driving force in the encouragement and support of women. For example, women constitute approximatley a third of members, and they have fully participated actively in the decision making process of Kuapa Kokoo. In 2010 Kuapa Kokoo elected the first woman president of the union.

As a result of Divine and Fairtrade meduim, farmers have had the opportunity to interact with consumers in Europe and America. Each year farmers travel to UK and US to talk about their industry. They interact with school children and other consumers of chocolate to tell them their stories, their farming activities and the benefits of Fairtrade, and in turn are able to share their knowledge with their communities.

“Farmers have gained confidence through such opportunities and have increased their understanding of the world of cocoa and chocolate,” said Mrs. Ohene-Agyare. “This is what Fairtrade does for farmers and we are proud of it.”

Kofi Adu Domfeh, AfricaNews Reporter in Accra, Ghana.