The Cocoa-Farming Challenges...
Low productivity is often a result of the farmers having limited
knowledge of modern farming techniques and farm management skills. Their lack of access to adequate finances which would allow them to purchase quality planting material, also affects the productivity of their crop. Ageing trees that are past peak cocoa pod production, decline in soil fertility and cocoa tree attacking pests and diseases are also contributors to low productivity.
As the cocoa tree is fragile by nature, it is extremely vulnerable to pests and diseases. It is estimated that across all three major growing regions (South America, West Africa and Southeast Asia) farmers can lose up to 30-40% of their cocoa tree crops to pests and diseases.
Lack of quality basic education is another major challenge occurring for cocoa-farming communities. The lack of education and knowledge
about new, efficient farming techniques can reduce crop size and incomes and even hinders the future growth of cocoa farming is at risk as youths have to move away to urban areas to receive an education. A lack of organisation also limits the farmer’s ability to purchase supplies at a low cost and receive better prices for their cocoa. To sustain cocoa-growing communities in the long-term, it is essential that basic literacy, agricultural livelihoods training, youth leadership and teach training programs are put in place to improve the access to a quality education for these communities.
An absence of access to proper healthcare also impacts many cocoa farm workers as they must deal with HIV/AIDS, malaria and poor quality
drinking water.
knowledge of modern farming techniques and farm management skills. Their lack of access to adequate finances which would allow them to purchase quality planting material, also affects the productivity of their crop. Ageing trees that are past peak cocoa pod production, decline in soil fertility and cocoa tree attacking pests and diseases are also contributors to low productivity.
As the cocoa tree is fragile by nature, it is extremely vulnerable to pests and diseases. It is estimated that across all three major growing regions (South America, West Africa and Southeast Asia) farmers can lose up to 30-40% of their cocoa tree crops to pests and diseases.
Lack of quality basic education is another major challenge occurring for cocoa-farming communities. The lack of education and knowledge
about new, efficient farming techniques can reduce crop size and incomes and even hinders the future growth of cocoa farming is at risk as youths have to move away to urban areas to receive an education. A lack of organisation also limits the farmer’s ability to purchase supplies at a low cost and receive better prices for their cocoa. To sustain cocoa-growing communities in the long-term, it is essential that basic literacy, agricultural livelihoods training, youth leadership and teach training programs are put in place to improve the access to a quality education for these communities.
An absence of access to proper healthcare also impacts many cocoa farm workers as they must deal with HIV/AIDS, malaria and poor quality
drinking water.
It is both a tradition and a challenge for children to be working on cocoa
farms. The children help out on family farms as their involvement in the
farming tasks is one of the first steps in the transition of responsibility of
the family farm.
The challenges however with children working on cocoa farms are quite extensive. Too many children have been found undertaking unsafe farming tasks, using dangerous farm tools, applying dangerous pesticides and many children have been reported as injured due to farm work. In some cases, children are not attending school because they are working on the farms. But the largest concern of all for children is reports of them being ‘trafficked’ away from
their communities, to work on cocoa farms where they have no connection at all
to the adults on the farm.
farms. The children help out on family farms as their involvement in the
farming tasks is one of the first steps in the transition of responsibility of
the family farm.
The challenges however with children working on cocoa farms are quite extensive. Too many children have been found undertaking unsafe farming tasks, using dangerous farm tools, applying dangerous pesticides and many children have been reported as injured due to farm work. In some cases, children are not attending school because they are working on the farms. But the largest concern of all for children is reports of them being ‘trafficked’ away from
their communities, to work on cocoa farms where they have no connection at all
to the adults on the farm.