Swiss chocolate and cocoa products manufacturer Barry Callebaut has signed an agreement with the Cameroon Government to boost the production of cocoa.

As per the agreement, signatories will look to develop a model for sustainable cocoa farming, as well as farmers’ income diversification initiatives.

The partnership will focus on improving cocoa volumes by sharing productivity best practices.

Barry Callebaut CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: “Without cocoa farmers, there is no chocolate. By combining the expertise and resources on the ground from the CICC and Barry Callebaut we want to accelerate the progress towards a sustainable cocoa farming sector, in order for cocoa farming to remain an attractive professional future for young Cameroonians.”

The partners will support the next generation of cocoa farmers under the ‘New Generation’ programme by establishing access to family farm plots, training, inputs, financing and equipment acquisition.

The income diversification programme will involve the cultivation of other agricultural products related to cocoa farming.

Initiated by the Cameroon Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council (CICC), the Cameroon New Generation programme aims to overcome barriers, which are stopping young Cameroonians from succeeding their parents in cocoa farming.

The programme focuses on establishing Centres of Excellence for post-harvest treatment, as well as the systematisation of good agriculture and post-harvest practices.

The signatories expect to present the first outcomes of their collaboration in early 2020.

Last June, Barry Callebaut and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) signed a letter of intent (LoI) to strengthen their cooperation on sustainable cocoa farming initiatives.

Under the LoI, the two entities agreed to collaborate, design and validate a sustainable cocoa farming model, with particular focus on clearing and replanting cocoa trees infected with the swollen-shoot virus (CSSV) disease.