Partner:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) / Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP)
Period:
Apr 2011 – Nov 2011
Country of Operation:
Ghana
Category:
Cocoa Sector
Project Snapshot:
This project focused on introducing cocoa certification to farmer associations in Ghana. PDA implemented the initiative across 8 districts in the Ashanti and Western Regions by engaging with 27 associations for certification and restructuring 29 additional associations to enhance their organizational development under the EU/CSSP 2 framework.
Project Objectives:
- Introduce cocoa certification to 27 farmer associations.
- Restructure 29 farmer associations to address organizational development challenges.
- Link certified associations with input suppliers to improve access to necessary resources.
- Lay the groundwork for future resource mobilization to support organizational development, although this final objective was not fully realized due to project termination.
PDA’s Task:
PDA was responsible for facilitating the introduction of cocoa certification, restructuring the associations through participatory dialogue, sensitizing members about the benefits of certification, and linking the associations with relevant input suppliers.
How We Went About It:
- Participatory Dialogue & Sensitization: Conducted extensive dialogue and sensitization sessions across 8 districts in the Ashanti and Western Regions to introduce and promote cocoa certification.
- Certification Implementation: Worked directly with 27 farmer associations to implement the cocoa certification process.
- Organizational Restructuring: Assisted 29 associations in addressing internal organizational challenges through tailored restructuring initiatives.
- Facilitating Linkages: Established connections between the certified associations and input suppliers, while maintaining ongoing communication with the associations undergoing restructuring.