Confectionery brand Cadbury is expecting the first shipment of Fairtrade cocoa beans from Papua New Guinea to arrive in Australia in the coming weeks.
In partnership with Fairtrade ANZ and Monpi Cocoa Exports, Cadbury has been supporting Club 3000, a group of 629 cocoa farmers in Madang Province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, to sell its cocoa under Fairtrade terms.
The 12 month project, delivered by Monpi Cocoa Exports, is training Club 3000 farmers to produce high quality Fairtrade certified cocoa in order to bring a sustainable income to farmers, their families and the community.
According to the Fairtrade website, the initiative delivers a better deal for farmers and producers in the developing world through:
- A fair and stable price for their produce
- Security of long-term contracts
- Investment in local community development
- Improved working conditions
- Environmentally sustainable farming methods
- Support in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to operate successfully in the global economy
Stephanie Saliba, Cadbury spokesperson said, “While relatively small in terms of the global cocoa market, the PNG cocoa industry offers great potential. Sustainability initiatives like Club 3000 are helping farmers to improve the efficiency of their farming, increase their yields and in doing so improve their livelihoods and lives.”
Following on from the Club 3000 project, Cadbury and Monpi have announced a further partnership to provide training and support to 1,000 farmers in the northern Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea, under the banner of the $400 million global Cocoa Life program. An NGO will also join the partnership later this year to work with Morobe farmers and the community on a holistic approach to improving the region’s cocoa industry and the lives of farmers.
“Our vision is that in partnership with Monpi Cocoa Exports, and our NGO partner, we will work with farmers, their families and local communities to address areas of need with a particular focus on empowering women. Those needs will be identified by the farmers and communities involved in the project,” said Saliba.