Increasing cocoa farmers’ income through market systems

Because of the volatile nature of primary commodities, ECOM works with farmers to mitigate the risks of these fluctuations. We have been implementing a project in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria from 2020 to 2023, together with BMZ and develoPPP. The main goal is to improve farming households’ incomes and achieve at least 15% of additional farmer income from non-cocoa crops based on income according to the baseline income level.

We have supported 5,000 farmers through diversifying crops and supporting the marketing of their products.

Another key aspect is that at least 5,000 farmers produce additional crops:

• • 2,500 in Côte d’Ivoire
• • 1,000 in Ghana
• • 1,500 in Nigeria

Farmers’ adoption of and earnings from non-cocoa alternative livelihoods have increased over the two years between baseline and follow-up. These additional livelihoods are helping farmers increase their household income and reinvest a portion of it in their cocoa farms.