The cocoa embargo initiated by Ivoirian farmers (see my earlier post) has come to an end. The action itself probably did not push traders and exporters to pay farmers the suggested minimum farm gate price, but the action has certainly slowed down the delivery of cocoa to Ivoirian ports.
The Global Market for Premium Chocolate
The international market research firm Research and Markets has released a new report on the future of the global market for premium chocolate. The report points out that the market for said chocolate amounts to almost $7 billion. That size reflects a 65 percent increase since 2002, quite a steep growth rate. At the same time, however, premium chocolate still only represents a small share (less than 10 percent) of the total global chocolate market of $75 billion.
Ten Years of Divine Chocolate
Divine Chocolate celebrates its tenth anniversary with a four day exhibit of photographs at the gallery at Oxo Tower Wharf in London. Check out a preview of the photographs. Ten years are a remarkable achievement and I’m excited to add my congratulations.
Since its humble beginnings as a project conjured up by Twin Trading, the Body Shop, Christian Aid and Comic Relief, Divine has morphed into an important player on the fair trade scene. Most importantly, the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo have been the direct beneficiaries of its success. Check out the timeline and the story of Divine for more information.
At the core of the success is the quality of the cocoa beans produced by the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo. They work hard and are proud of their achievements. I could not help but feel this price during my visit both at the headquarters and the Boakyeasua village society.
But in addition to the work and commitment of the farmers, there is also the tireless work of Sophie Tranchell, the managing director of Divine, and her team in London. She positively radiates enthusiasm about her work as a social entrepreneur and told me during an interview last year that she wants “to change the world chocolate and doing with it with chocolate that’s great makes it easier.”
To get your fix of divine chocolate look for it in your favorite stores. Ask them to do so if they don’t carry it. UK residents will have an easier time finding it, but Divine now has a U.S. presence and its chocolate in available in more and more places.
Cargill Opens New Cocoa Processing Plant in Ghana
Several news sources reported the opening of a new cocoa processing plant in Tema, Ghana. The Cargill plant will process about 65,000 tons of cocoa beans annually to produce chocolate liquor, cocoa powder and cocoa butter.
Ghana’s president Kufuor presided over the inauguration giving an indication of the significance the plant holds in the eyes of Ghanaian authorities. At the moment, Ghana processes 298,000 tons (about 40 percent of its cocoa bean production) domestically and exports the processed materials. The new plant will increase that amount substantially.
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Child Labor Update
Last week, the Payson Center of Tulane University published its second annual report evaluating public and private initiatives to combat the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa sectors of Ghana and the Côte d’Ivoire. These reports are produced under a contract with the U.S. Department of Labor.
The report concludes that
- Children in the rural areas continue working in cocoa production and in other agricultural and economic activities, some as young as 5 years of age.
- A large percentage of the children working in cocoa report involvement in hazardous work and injuries while performing agricultural tasks, including the use of tools and equipment, carrying heavy loads, and exposure to environmental hazards. Some children are also involved in spraying pesticides and in the application of other chemicals. Some of these activities have been classified worst forms of child labor by the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
- There is little evidence of the unconditional worst forms of child labor in the cocoa sector – child trafficking, forced labor, etc. – as a percentage of the population. However, there is evidence of child trafficking to Côte d’Ivoire from neighboring countries.
- Of note in the Tulane’s population-based survey of Nov/Dec 2007 was that the vast majority of children in the cocoa-growing areas – 95% in Ghana and 98% in Côte d’Ivoire (weighted data) – do not report exposure to any intervention projects in support of children in the rural areas. While these children may still benefit from interventions indirectly and without their knowledge, these percentages are low enough to merit further field validation (Second Annual Report, page 10).
