Sustainable Cocoa Production from Agroforestry in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest
Project description
Title: Sustainable Cocoa Production from Agroforestry in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest
Commissioned by: Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Brazil
Partner: Mondelez
Overall term: 2020 to 2024
Context
In Brazil cocoa is typically produced by smallholders. Technical assistance is scarce, and there is a severe lack of mechanical or technological support. This makes it difficult for smallholders to improve their production system and thus their livelihoods. High rates of deforestation in Pará as well as low productivity in the traditional cocoa production systems in Bahia increase the negative impact on important natural ecosystems such as the Amazon and Atlantic Forests.
Objective
The income of cocoa smallholders’ have been increased by 25 per cent through improved productivity in old traditional cocoa areas in Bahia and in new recovered degraded areas with agroforestry systems in Pará.
Approach
Mondelez and local partners conduct training and mobilization activities with producers and technical professionals in Bahia and Pará to improve productivity in cocoa-growing regions. They have also introduced agroforestry systems as a tool for recovering degraded areas. Activities focus on organizing field days in the experimental areas to describe in details the steps taken to achieve the increased productivity on cocoa production areas, combined with communication materials distributed to participants (short videos, booklets, short guides, etc.)
The project and its partners support the development of strategies for market access to improve distribution of the various products from the agroforestry systems. Parallel to this, they work to enhance the business management skills of cooperatives and producer associations.
The project consolidates the ability of governmental and non-governmental organisations to promote environmental compliance in Bahia and in Pará. Key actions involve capacity building activities with technicians from these organizations (state and municipal environmental agencies, NGOs, cooperatives, among others) to support cocoa smallholders to comply with the Brazilian Forest Code.
Last update: February 2022