KUAPA KOKOOOUR CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE

COCOA PRODUCTION.

Brussels Briefing No.4422nd June 2016

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Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Unionwho are we?

We are the biggest Cocoa Cooperative Union in

Ghana. We are multiple certified with Fairtrade,

UTZ, Traceability and are due for Rainforest

certification. Our mission is to mobilize quality

cocoa and cocoa products to improve members’

livelihood and satisfy our customers.

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How did we start? Kuapa Kokoo was established in 1993 as a

Licensed Buying Company (LBC) led by the late Nana Nana Yaw Frimpong Abebrese II in response to market liberalisation.

In 1995, the farmer union was formed with a total membership of 2000 across 22 communities with support from Twin-UK.

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Core Objectives

Provide a medium for the social, economic and political empowerment of our farmers.

Enhance participation of women in decision making at all levels.

Promote environmentally sustainable production processes.

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Kuapa Kokoo & Fairtrade Kuapa Kokoo became Fairtrade certified in

1995 and has remained Fairtrade certified till date.

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Where are we now?Currently KKFU has 100, 000 members in 57

cooperative societies. We cover 6 out of the 7 cocoa regions in Ghana. (33% women, 67% men).

The union has 1,283 active zones/communities.

We currently produce about 48,000 tonnes of certified cocoa of which between 30%-40% is sold as Fairtrade. Kuapa Kokoo is currently the highest producer of Fairtrade certified cocoa in the world

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KUAPA KOKOO FARMERS UNION

SOCIETIES SOCIETIES SOCIETIES

ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE

How is the union governed?Kuapa Kokoo: Democracy and Good governance.AGMs are held each year in all the levels of the union

to ratify decisions. Farmers at AGM:

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Democracy & Good GovernanceElections are held every 4 years to elect:

– ZEC : (5) member executive body– SEC: (7) member executive body– NEC: (13) member executive body

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Kuapa Kokoo Businesses

Kuapa Kokoo limited – owned 99%

Divine Chocolate (UK & US) – owned 44%,

majority share holder

Fairtrade cocoa sales

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OUR SUCCESS STORY

GROWTH: Increase in membership from 2000 to 100,000 farmers.

Operational in 1,283 communities, 57 cocoa districts in 6 out of

the 7 cocoa regions in Ghana.

Increased production to 48,000MT with a local market share of

6%.

Owned majority shares (44% and 99%) in Divine Chocolate (UK

&US) and KKL respectively.

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OUR SUCCESS STORY Extension programme: Employed agric-extension officers across

all the 57 cooperative societies to training farmers in GAP, GSP, GEP to ensure compliance and sustainability.

Training to lead farmers Training to Extension officers

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OUR SUCCESS STORYProductivity enhancement : The establishment of inputs shops providing planting materials and inputs.

The strategy is to assist farmers rehabilitate and intensify old and deceased infested farms to increase productivity.

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OUR SUCCESS STORYWomen Empowerment: • Increased women participation in cocoa production – 33% of

membership are women. Women presidents since 2010.• Skills training in additional livelihood activities (Soap, Batik, Oil

Extraction etc) by increasing farmers income stream.• Adult literacy- Enhancing women’s ability to read and write.

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OUR SUCCESS STORYClimate change mitigation and adaptability: More than 200,000 trees species (teak, emire, mahogany, mansonia cedrella) have been planted since 2011 partly funded by PUR & Cocoa Eco projects.

This is to assist farmers already affected by the impact of climate change to improve shading and carbon sequestration.

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OUR SUCCESS STORYPayment of additional cash bonus and incentive:

Farmers allocate to themselves a cash bonus and other incentives on the total production every year to cover part of their production cost.

Bonus payment to members at Juaso

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OUR SUCCESS STORYCommunity Development projects:

KKFU since it establishment has undertaken lots of community development projects such as school buildings and teachers quarters, boreholes, corn mills, Toilet facilities etc. to assist communities to have access to certain basic social amenities

School building at Amankwatia Toilet facility at Wamaso community.

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Community Development projects

.

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OUR SUCCESS STORYHealth care delivery to farmers:

KKFU has been concerned about the health needs of farmers, due to this the union has established a health post to deliver free medical care to its members.

.To ensure programme sustainability, a mutual health insurance scheme has been set up so that the farmers can contribute a little to the programme.

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WAYFOWARDEnhancing our sustainability programmes through

partnerships and collaborations in the areas of: productivity enhancement, climate change adaptability, women empowerment and alternative livelihoods.

Adopting multiple certification approaches

Promoting diversification to increase farmers income.

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Always Remember The Chocolate Maxim: "NO BEANS – NO BARS”

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THANK YOU!Danke!!

MERCI!!!!MEDA MO ASE!