100 Ghanaian Communities Join Cadbury Cocoa Partnership on Cadbury’s 100th Anniversary in Ghana
Cadbury plc today announces that the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership is now active across 100 Ghanaian communities, marking the 100th anniversary of cocoa trading with Ghana.
The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, established last year in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme, also announced the partners driving its community support at grassroots level in Ghana are CARE, Voluntary Service Overseas and World Vision.
Since its launch last year, the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership has begun investing in Ghanaian farming as part of a ten-year £30 million commitment to secure the future of cocoa farmers and their communities. While Ghanaian cocoa trades at a premium due to its consistent high quality, the country’s cocoa farming industry is facing increasing challenges ranging from the ever-present threat of crop disease to attracting the next generation of farmers.
The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership’s first year has seen a Ghana Board set up to oversee the programme which includes representatives from Ghanaian government ministries, farmer organisations and development specialists.
Cadbury Chief Executive Todd Stitzer is in Ghana this week to see for himself the work now underway across the 100 communities.
“I am delighted to be here to witness at first hand the progress made by the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership in its first year. It’s particularly timely that we’re also here 100 years after the Cadbury family bought its first cocoa harvest from Ghana,” he said.
The 100 communities who have now joined the partnership have been identifying their main development needs, including the construction of new school buildings or forming Cocoa Youth Clubs to encourage the next generation to remain with agriculture, particularly cocoa farming.
In 2009 Cadbury Cocoa Partnership is extending its activities to focus on improving farm income levels by developing farmer education programmes that explore best cocoa management practices leading to high quality and increased yields. As well as seeking to make an immediate impact on farmers’ lives, the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership is exploring carbon reduction techniques to secure more sustainable cocoa farming.
By 2018, Cadbury estimates it will have made a demonstrable difference to the lives of around half a million Ghanaian farmers.
For further information please call Cadbury’s Press Office on +44 (0)1895 615011. For more information on Cadbury's sustainability commitments, please visit www.dearcadbury.com
Posted on February 06, 2009 at 3:02pm.
