Indonesian Cocoa Farmers Unite With Businesses to Combat Climate Change Challenges

Cocoa farmers in Indonesia are uniting with businesses and NGOs to confront the challenges posed by climate change, which has resulted in soaring cocoa prices. By adopting improved farming techniques and forming cooperatives, farmers like Tari Santoso are enhancing their yields and sustaining their livelihoods. Despite ongoing challenges such as limited access to loans and reduced interest in cocoa farming, significant progress is being made through collaboration.

Cocoa farmers throughout Indonesia are collaborating with businesses and organizations to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, which have inflated cocoa prices significantly. Cocoa trees are delicate crops requiring specific climatic conditions, and any fluctuation in temperature or rainfall adversely impacts their productivity. Consequently, several farmers are diversifying their crops, causing cocoa supplies to dwindle, with prices soaring to approximately $12,000 per ton in 2024, affecting grocery costs and inspiring innovative cultivation methods, including laboratory farming.

Indonesia ranks as the third-largest cocoa producer globally, following Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana. In an effort to enhance agricultural practices and farmers’ livelihoods, partnerships between farmers, businesses, and NGOs are becoming increasingly common. For instance, Tari Santoso, a farmer in South Sumatra, collaborates with Krakakoa, an Indonesian chocolate manufacturer, to adopt better farming techniques since their partnership began in 2016. Santoso has implemented practices such as regular pruning and grafting, and has embraced agroforestry methods to enrich his farm and create additional income sources.

Krakakoa has successfully trained over 1,000 Indonesian cocoa farmers in sustainable practices while offering financial assistance and facilitating the establishment of cooperatives. This cooperative model allows local farmers to secure low-interest loans, enhancing cash flow within their community. Furthermore, partnerships with businesses can aid farmers in obtaining loans from government banks by providing necessary collateral through guaranteed buyer agreements.

Collaboration among various entities, including the government and NGOs, remains essential for building resilience against climate impacts. Partnerships such as the one between Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency and Mars have developed new cocoa variants that yield more pods, showcasing the innovative approaches taking shape.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist, such as a dwindling interest in cocoa farming among new generations and limited access to loans for small-scale farmers. Rajendra Aryal, the FAO’s country director for Indonesia, noted the potential for cocoa farming to regain its allure, emphasizing the importance of addressing farmers’ issues to ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

It is imperative for the ongoing collaboration between farmers and businesses to continue fostering development in the cocoa sector, providing a pathway towards sustainability and growth amidst the changing climate.

In conclusion, Indonesian cocoa farmers are strategically collaborating with various stakeholders to combat the adverse effects of climate change and declining cocoa supply. These partnerships have led to improved farming practices, financial support, and innovative agricultural adaptations to ensure sustainability. Although challenges remain, there is cautious optimism about the future of cocoa farming in Indonesia, largely due to the ongoing collaborative efforts.

Original Source: www.local10.com