GHANA – Nestle Ghana Ltd will reward US$1.08 million to over 17,615 farmers under the Nestlé Cocoa Plan (NCP) as the company looks to doing business profitably while ensuring sustainable development in the community they operate.
The increased premium payment is geared at motivating farmers for quality cocoa production, meet production standards, increase local sourcing while empowering the local economy.
A report by GNA reveals that Nestle, through its implementing partners, Cocoanect and Ecom Agro industrial Corp Ltd will pay each farmer US$2.93 for every certified bag of cocoa, which is about 14.3% increment in pay effective July 2018.
According to Nestle, Nestlé Cocoa Plan (NCP) was part of Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value (CSV) strategy, an approach that seeks success along its value chain by creating value both for shareholders and society.
On the other hand, Nestlé Cocoa Plan (NCP) aims to bring business and society together by generating sustainable economic value in a way that also produces value for society.
Nestle has a long term goal of contributing to a healthier future, improving the society, improve quality of produce and create value for farmer’s produce.
Nestlé Corporate and Communications Affairs in a statement said the company was committed to help improve 30 million livelihoods of people directly connected to its business by 2030 through the Agricultural focused projects such as the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and the Nestlé Cereals Plan.
Under the NCP, Nestlé collaborates with partners like Ecom, International Cocoa Initiative, Cocoanect and Cocoa Merchants.
Farmers were also awarded with materials including wellington boots, cutlass, sprayers, pruners and solar television set for their commitment towards fulfilling NCP key pillars – Better Farming, Better Cocoa, Better Lives.
“At Nestlé, we have an ambition to help improve 30 million livelihoods of people directly connected to our business by 2030 through our Agricultural focused projects such as the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and the Nestlé Cereals Plan.
We believe that better farming will translate into better lives and better cocoa.
This premium payment which our farmers are benefiting from will help motivate them to produce quality cocoa that will meet our production standards, help increase local sourcing and contribute to developing the local economy,” said Mr. Fatih Ermis, Head of Agricultural Services, Nestlé Central West Africa Region.
Nestle’s strategy highlights its focus on contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication, zero hunger, gender equality, responsible consumption and reproduction, decent work and economic growth.
