The second reason is that whilst bad farming practice has been addressed, the underlying problems that contribute to extreme poverty – such as low cocoa prices, lack of infrastructure and no transparency and accountability as you move higher in the supply chain – remain unchallenged and unsolved.
The Cocoa Barometer explains that there needs to be recognition that in its current form, the business model for high yields of cocoa means “poverty for farmers and excessive profit for chocolate manufacturers”. The third reason outlined in the Cocoa Barometer report is that efforts to solve complex issues of injustice and unsustainability in the cocoa sector have not been inclusive or holistic enough. It states that “instead of inviting farmers and civic society to take a respected seat at the decision-making table”, problems have been assessed using a “top-down industry-based approach” – serving the interests of industry and government, rather than the producer farmers and their communities. Isaac Gyamfi, Managing Director for Solidaridad in West Africa, commented: “We
are at the crossroads. Do we continue skirting around the issue of farmers wellbeing, or will all stakeholders together radically redesign value distribution and decision making in the cocoa sector? Let’s make space at the table and assure a living income, for both farmers and workers.” In light of these findings, the report makes three recommendations:
1
Regulation that changes the system, rather than penalising the farmers The report advocates for systems change and regulation that creates an enabling environment. Current forms of certification and farm-based standards increase pressure on farmers: instead, the report states that we need laws that hold the powerful accountable, rather than systems that demand farmers to solve systemic issues.
2
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Effective partnerships between producer and consumer countries
The Cocoa Barometer calls for partnership agreements between producer and consumer countries that facilitate and finance system change, ensuring the right policies are in place. It states that “processes that set
partnerships in motion should be inclusive and deliberative, ensuring that civil society and farmer groups have a respected voice at decision-making tables”.
3
Deliver on a fair price for farmers The report outlines that the single biggest positive impact for farmers and incentive for farming sustainably is delivering a fair price for the cocoa they produce. Cocoa and chocolate companies must find ways to redistribute value along the supply chain so that farmers are guaranteed a living income. Sandra Sarkwah, Coordinator for the Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP), supports the publication of the Cocoa Barometer 2020. She said: “Efforts of sector players to change the story of farmers keep on beating about the bush when evidence presents to us the plight of farmers, thus, low income from their hard work is a major threat to cocoa sustainability” she said. “Processors, chocolate manufacturing companies and retailers who earn a large chunk from the value chain must be fair to farmers by paying a living income and this must reach the farmer.”
Kennedy’s Confection December 2020 17
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