A one-day workshop drilled actors of the sector in the high-yield zone of Kumba. “Marketing Cocoa” was the pivot of discussions that drew cocoa farmers, dealers and authorities to the Meme Divisional headquarters, Kumba, 14 December. The aim, as designed by the Market Information System for cocoa and coffee (MIS), was to seek ways of modernising and reinforcing the free flow of information on cocoa prices in the international market.

To reap the international market price, farmers must professionalise their activity and apply quality and quantity improvement, Michael Ndoping, General Manager of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB) explained in an opening speech. He told Kumba farmers that there are some 60 cocoa producing countries in the world for a convergent market in the Asian continent and elsewhere. In such a situation, farmers must not think that they are orphans but instead constitute themselves into a strong force to bargain for their rights, he went on. Ndoping explained that there are about 12 certification bodies that are there to ensure the cocoa economy remains sustainable. “Of these bodies is the Rain Forest Alliance that we intend to bring to the South West Region,” he added.

Participants at the Kumba seminar were to come out with viable decisions on the various stages in the information chain such as research, production, external and internal marketing, processing, consumption and the promotion of cocoa and coffee activities in Cameroon. Created in July 2009, MIS or (SIF French acronym) is supported by the Ministry of Trade and FODECC to ensure cocoa and coffee farmers are better informed on the prices of their produce at the level of the international market. From September this year, relay points have been established in Bafoussam, Bertoua, Ebolowa, Mfou, Monatele, Nkongsamba, Kumba, Kumbo and Sangmelima to enable a wide spread of information on the cocoa and market system in Cameroon. When the Minister of Trade launched the cocoa season in Muyuka (South West) last 18 August, 2010, he called on the authorities of the cocoa and coffee sector to install the Market Information System without delay.

In that light the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, David Aman Koulbout, urged the farmers to learn to save money, improve on their quantities and qualities, avoid excess drinking, keep away from the hands of prostitutes and desist from primitive loaning systems called “10 born 10” where usurers dupe farmers of their wealth.