The Brussels Development Briefing no. 44 on “Promoting responsible and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade” took place on 22 June 2016 from 9:00 to 13:00, at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. This Briefings was co-organised by CTA, the European Commission / DEVCO, the ACP Secretariat, CONCORD and the Fair Trade Advocacy Office.

2. KUAPA KOKOO
OUR CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE
COCOA PRODUCTION.
Brussels Briefing No.44
22nd June 2016
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3. Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union
who are we?
We are the biggest Cocoa Cooperative Union in
Ghana. We are multiple certified with Fairtrade,
UTZ, Traceability and are due for Rainforest
certification. Our mission is to mobilize quality
cocoa and cocoa products to improve members’
livelihood and satisfy our customers.
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4. How did we start?
 Kuapa Kokoo was established in 1993 as a
Licensed Buying Company (LBC) led by the late
Nana Nana Yaw Frimpong Abebrese II in
response to market liberalisation.
 In 1995, the farmer union was formed with a
total membership of 2000 across 22
communities with support from Twin-UK.
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5. Core Objectives
 Provide a medium for the social, economic and
political empowerment of our farmers.
 Enhance participation of women in decision
making at all levels.
Promote environmentally sustainable
production processes.
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6. Kuapa Kokoo & Fairtrade
 Kuapa Kokoo became Fairtrade certified in
1995 and has remained Fairtrade certified till
date.
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7. Where are we now?
Currently KKFU has 100, 000 members in 57
cooperative societies. We cover 6 out of the 7 cocoa
regions in Ghana. (33% women, 67% men).
The union has 1,283 active zones/communities.
 We currently produce about 48,000 tonnes of
certified cocoa of which between 30%-40% is sold as
Fairtrade. Kuapa Kokoo is currently the highest
producer of Fairtrade certified cocoa in the world
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8. KUAPA KOKOO
FARMERS UNION
SOCIETIES SOCIETIES SOCIETIES
ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE ZONE

9. How is the union governed?
Kuapa Kokoo: Democracy and Good governance.
AGMs are held each year in all the levels of the union
to ratify decisions.
Farmers at AGM:
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10. Democracy & Good Governance
Elections are held every 4 years to elect:
– ZEC : (5) member executive body
– SEC: (7) member executive body
– NEC: (13) member executive body
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11. Kuapa Kokoo Businesses
 Kuapa Kokoo limited – owned 99%
 Divine Chocolate (UK & US) – owned 44%,
majority share holder
 Fairtrade cocoa sales
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12. OUR SUCCESS STORY
GROWTH:
 Increase in membership from 2000 to 100,000 farmers.
 Operational in 1,283 communities, 57 cocoa districts in 6 out of
the 7 cocoa regions in Ghana.
 Increased production to 48,000MT with a local market share of
6%.
 Owned majority shares (44% and 99%) in Divine Chocolate (UK
&US) and KKL respectively.
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13. OUR SUCCESS STORY
 Extension programme: Employed agric-extension officers across
all the 57 cooperative societies to training farmers in GAP, GSP,
GEP to ensure compliance and sustainability.
Training to lead farmers Training to Extension officers
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14. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Productivity enhancement :
The establishment of inputs shops providing planting materials and
inputs.
The strategy is to assist farmers rehabilitate and intensify old and deceased
infested farms to increase productivity.
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15. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Women Empowerment:
• Increased women participation in cocoa production – 33% of
membership are women. Women presidents since 2010.
• Skills training in additional livelihood activities (Soap, Batik, Oil
Extraction etc) by increasing farmers income stream.
• Adult literacy- Enhancing women’s ability to read and write.
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16. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Climate change mitigation and adaptability:
More than 200,000 trees species (teak, emire, mahogany, mansonia cedrella)
have been planted since 2011 partly funded by PUR & Cocoa Eco projects.
This is to assist farmers already affected by the impact of climate change to
improve shading and carbon sequestration.
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17. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Payment of additional cash bonus and incentive:
Farmers allocate to themselves a cash bonus and other incentives
on the total production every year to cover part of their production
cost.
Bonus payment to members at Juaso
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18. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Community Development projects:
KKFU since it establishment has undertaken lots of community
development projects such as school buildings and teachers
quarters, boreholes, corn mills, Toilet facilities etc. to assist
communities to have access to certain basic social amenities
School building at Amankwatia Toilet facility at Wamaso community.
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19. Community Development projects
.
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20. OUR SUCCESS STORY
Health care delivery to farmers:
KKFU has been concerned about the health needs of farmers, due
to this the union has established a health post to deliver free
medical care to its members.
.
To ensure programme sustainability, a mutual health insurance scheme has
been set up so that the farmers can contribute a little to the programme.
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21. WAYFOWARD
Enhancing our sustainability programmes through
partnerships and collaborations in the areas of:
productivity enhancement, climate change
adaptability, women empowerment and alternative
livelihoods.
Adopting multiple certification approaches
Promoting diversification to increase farmers
income.
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22. Always Remember The
Chocolate Maxim:
"NO BEANS – NO BARS”
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23. THANK YOU!
Danke!!
MERCI!!!!
MEDA MO ASE!