Improving the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers

A S TORY FROM OUR BE T TER WORLD | WWW. OURBE T TERWORLD. ORG

As the world's third largest producer of cocoa beans, Indonesia is seeing more and more chocolate lovers all over the nation. But sadly, chocolate farmers – who grow the beans that make chocolate possible – are not receiving enough support despite the challenges they overcome throughout the process.

Some farmers, for instance, struggle with low yields because their trees are diseased. What is even more surprising is that some have even yet to taste the fruits of their labour: chocolate itself.

Things finally changed when a social enterprise, Kakoa Chocolate, visited some cocoa farmers in Lampung, South Sumatra. Farmers were offered chocolate for the very first time and their faces lit up when tasting the little pieces of heaven. Some even admitted that they had no idea of the significance of the beans they sold. All they knew was that the earnings made from growing cocoa would be enough to provide for their families.

Founded by Sabrina Mustopo, Kakoa Chocolate helps to improve the livelihoods of Indonesian cocoa farmers by sourcing directly from them. The non-profit organization in turn aims to produce chocolate made 100 percent of Indonesian beans. In addition, they believe that these farmers deserve more appreciation and support for their work, especially considering the contributions they make to economic development.

Kakoa Chocolate works together with the farmers to help manage their corporations better, teach them how to ferment their own beans, and buy and sell the beans while ensuring quality control.

Kakoa Chocolate's collaboration with the Lampung farmers was documented in a short video uploaded by Our Better World. In it, we see the farmers being educated through workshops and encouraged to implement good farming techniques by purchasing the beans at a higher rate than that of the market.