A cocoa company, Barry Callebaut Nigeria, has unveiled a reward initiative to celebrate farmers with high level of commitment in promoting sustainable cocoa farming in the country.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Adriaan Verbeke, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Barry Callebaut Nigeria is world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products.
Verbeke said that the company would be offering a premium to cocoa farmers under its Cocoa Horizons programme to improve their livelihood.
He said that the company would pay an additional premium totaling N26 million under the programme for deliveries of sustainable cocoa beans in Ondo and Cross River states during the 2021/2022 season.
Verbeke added that the programme would be extended to other regions of the country.
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“This significant initiative is in line with the objectives of our cocoa horizons programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities.
“This is through the promotion of sustainable, entrepreneurial farming, improved productivity, and community development.
“Through the cocoa horizon, Barry Callebaut will continue to work closely with local farmers on how to improve their yields, shun cocoa farming activities in protected areas and support “zero child labour” programmes,” he said.
Verbeke said that over 1,000 farmers in Akure and Ikom recently participated in awareness-raising training courses which addressed critical child labour.
