Training for UTZ and RA certification with a strong focus on yield improvement.

Building on the successful experiences in Ivory Coast, the Yara cocoa sustainability project seeks to increase farmer yields through training in:

• - GAP – Good Agricultural Practices
• - Pest control
• - Use of fertilizer
• - Introduction of high yielding and more disease-resistant tree varieties
• - Grafting

To date, success has been significant and measurable:

• - Six farmer organizations have developed their own trained teams for “Internal Control Systems”.
• - 794 farmers received their UTZ certificate in May 2011 and are among Nigeria’s first 2,000 certified cocoa farmers. An additional 1,000 farmers are on track for certification in early 2012.
• - A project with Dutch NGO Aflatoun will provide education in social and financial studies for 1000 farmer children. The project is funded by the ECOM Foundation.