The Global Cocoa Sustainability Manager of ECOM, Mr. Jason Green in the United Kingdom, has endorsed Ghanaian cocoa beans saying they are the best among the numerous cocoa beans his company deals with from around the world.
“We buy cocoa in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central America, South America, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea -- but I have to tell you that cocoa from Ghana is the best in the world,†he said, attracting a positive uproar amidst clapping from farmers during a premium announcement ceremony held recently at Bekwai in the Ashanti Region.
He has therefore advised the farmers to continue adhering to the certified global standards being set by their partners, which he believes will make them stay in business.
According to him, consumer demands today are driving leading brands to provide greater transparency on the origin of their products and how they are made.
“How merchants such as ECOM and its farmer-suppliers are addressing issues related to soil management, fertilisers and crop protection management, protection of the natural environment and labour practices is key to brand positioning and pricing,†he stressed.
He said sustainability at ECOM means focusing on improving farm productivity and product quality, leading in turn to lower costs and higher incomes. ECOM’s goal is for farmers to produce more and better products and to provide opportunities for dignified and profitable livelihoods for generations to come.
As demand for cocoa continues to increase and the land for new cocoa is limited, the challenge in cocoa farming today is to boost yields and make cocoa-farming an attractive and sustainable livelihood for farmers in the future.
Combined with right training, demonstration, and access to inputs, farmers can transform their farms into productive and profitable livelihoods for the long-term.
There has been a considerable demand for the supply of sustainable cocoa across the globe. Major chocolate manufacturers, cocoa traders and processors have made huge commitments to source 100%-certified cocoa by 2020.
In view of this development, most of these companies have strategically partnered with development agencies and NGOs in various producer countries to implement sustainable cocoa projects that focus on supporting farmers to produce certified cocoa.
ECOM Agro Industrial Corporation Limited is a global commodity trading and processing company focusing on coffee, cotton, and cocoa in major producing and consuming countries, with ancillary agricultural operations in oilseeds and hogs.
ECOM is one of the top-three merchants in coffee, one of the largest coffee millers in the world, and amongst the top-five merchants in both cotton and cocoa.
The company’s turnover in 2011 was in excess of US$4billion and in that year handled approximately 11 million bags of coffee, 2 million bales of cotton and 250,000 tonnes of cocoa, making it a top-tier participant in each of its core businesses.
With over 150 years of market experience, EcomAgro Industrial Corporation is committed to responsible leadership within the soft commodities industry.
Its global operations rely on its extensive knowledge and experience in supply chain improvement, risk management and client-focused distribution to create a valuable and profitable environment for their suppliers, customers, shareholders and employees.
By Seth Krampah | B&FT Online | Ghana
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