Increased awareness and consumer demand for products respecting social and environmental sustainability aspects has motivated commercial actors to change their business practices. Many standards and certification schemes are now being developed to ensure that agricultural commodities are produced and processed in a sustainable manner and take into account economic, social, and environmental issues.

GIZ FORCLIME together with Kalimajari Foundation initiated a series of activities to increase the capacities of small-scale cocoa farmers in implementing sustainable production systems. Overall, the activity aimed at building self-reliance of farmers and increasing the quality and quantity of cocoa beans.

The support provided in the two FORCLIME pilot districts Malinau (North Kalimantan) and Berau (East Kalimantan) involved representatives from local farmers and officials from the District Plantation Services. Knowledge transferred included cocoa farming practices and post harvest management, marketing strategies and joint marketing to strengthen the bargaining position of farmers. The series of activities included workshops and trainings on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

The activities received positive feedback from farmers and government agencies in both regions. Farmers are committed to improve the quality of products through cocoa bean fermentation in accordance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) and implement joint marketing systems.

Indonesia is the third largest cocoa producer in the world after Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, with the likeliness of even increasing annual cocoa export values in the future. As about 93 % of Indonesia’s cocoa plantations are managed by small-scale farmers, involving more than 1.4 million households, local cocoa farmers play an important role and need to be supported and participate actively in sustainable production mechanisms.

For further information, please contact: Heinz Terhorst, Strategic Area Manager, Green Economy.