Sunbeth Global Concepts recently held its annual ‘Assess and Address’ sustainability training program for members of its cocoa farmers’ group and other stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain. The event featured insightful lectures on sustainable cocoa farming practices and important considerations for driving positive change in the cocoa supply chain.
The program had a clear focus; reinforcing sustainability consciousness among the farmers by highlighting the social and environmental best practices for sustainable cocoa production. Notably, the program placed a strong emphasis on eliminating child labour and empowering women, which are crucial steps for preserving the future of cocoa farming and promoting a more inclusive cocoa value chain.
The training featured three key speakers, each addressing core sustainability issues; child and forced labour mitigation, women empowerment and inclusion, and environmental conservation.
Mitigating the Issue of Child Labour in the Cocoa Supply Chain
Taking the first lecture, Ayoola Olasoji, the proprietor of Springboard Academy and an advocate for child literacy, spoke about the pressing issue of widespread child labour in the African cocoa supply chain.
He referenced an NORC statistic showing that nearly 1.6 million children are engaged in child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa, with close to 50% of them exposed to hazardous conditions to explain the urgency of the situation.
Ayoola explained that many cocoa farmers often subject children to inappropriate labour conditions under the pretext of teaching them about cocoa farming. Although the farmers’ desire to impart cocoa farming knowledge to the children is commendable, it does not justify subjecting them to strenuous circumstances. Moreover, all training should be within safe educational limits.
He also discussed additional issues related to child and forced labour such as denying children’s access to education, the potential negative physical and psychological impact on the victims, as well as penalties for the perpetrators.
Against this backdrop, the speaker stressed the importance of mitigating child and forced labour in the cocoa value chain. He encouraged the farmers to prioritize quality education and called for safer, educational approaches to introducing children to farming.
Gender Diversity and Women Inclusion/Empowerment in the Cocoa Supply Chain
The second speaker, Barr. Catherine Ogunjebi explored gender diversity and its challenges in the cocoa supply chain. She emphasized the importance of gender inclusion and the unique challenges faced by women in cocoa farming such as discrimination and gender-based violence.
Speaking on discrimination, she pointed out that women are often sidelined in male-dominated fields like cocoa farming, frequently confined to homemaker roles due to cultural and traditional beliefs. But this shouldn’t be, as women can also be productive and significant contributors to the supply chain.
She called for increased gender equality promotion in the cocoa supply chain. This, she said can be achieved by enabling women to gain prominence in the cocoa industry. For example, by allowing women to occupy executive positions in the farmers’ associations and trade unions, they get a platform to foster women’s interest in the industry.
She also mentioned that women can be empowered, not only in cocoa farming, but in other ventures to be productive members of the society. She highlighted focused capacity development, access to resources, and inclusive policies as strategies for empowering women and promoting gender equality in the value chain.
Calling on all stakeholders to actively engage in women empowerment promotion, she highlighted the following responsibilities for the various cocoa value chain actors.
- Private actors should provide increased support for gender-inclusive policies.
- The government should create legal frameworks to guarantee women’s rights and access to credit.
- NGOs and civil societies should provide advocacy and training, and amplify women’s voices in leadership
- Community leaders should also foster cultural shifts towards gender equality.
Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Practices
The third speaker, Mr.Oyetunde Opeyemi, Sunbeth’s sustainability Team Lead, focused on the environmental impact of cocoa farming. He spoke on the dangers of deforestation, forest reserve encroachment, excessive chemical use, and other harmful farming practices.
Some of the dangers associated with unsustainable farming practices include:
- Excessive soil weathering and erosion
- Loss of forest cover and wildlife
- Climate change
These factors all threaten the future of cocoa farming, hence, there’s an urgency to curb unsustainable farming activities that create these results.
Key Takeaways and Participant’s Feedback
As the training was wrapping up, participants expressed their appreciation for the insightful discussions and their potential impact on the future of cocoa production.
One thing was evident from the participants’ feedback, the speakers and trainees were unanimous on the importance of mitigating child labour, stopping deforestation, and promoting women’s inclusion in cocoa production.
Clearly, this training helped reinforce the need for increased sustainability consciousness and actions to ensure the quest for profitability in the cocoa business doesn’t negatively impact children, women, and the environment.
Commitment to a Sustainable Future
Our “Assess and Address” program is also aligned with the Rainforest Alliance’s mission to promote ethical and sustainable farming practices. By equipping our farmers with knowledge and resources, we are contributing to the creation of a responsible cocoa supply chain that respects both people and the environment.
Overall, Sunbeth Global Concepts remains dedicated to creating a cocoa supply chain free from child labour, discrimination, forced labour, and workplace violence and harassment. As we move forward, we will continue to promote ethical and sustainable practices across the industry.
