Cocoa farmers in Indonesia are teaming up with businesses to address climate change challenges, which have raised cocoa prices dramatically. Through partnerships with companies like Krakakoa, farmers adopt improved agricultural practices and utilize cooperative models for financial support, enhancing their resilience against climate impacts.
Cocoa farmers in Indonesia are uniting with businesses and organizations to combat climate change’s adverse effects and boost their livelihoods. The challenges farmers face include high climate sensitivity, as cocoa trees thrive only in specific equatorial climates, taking five years to yield usable seeds for chocolate production. Due to climate change—characterized by rising temperatures and unpredictable weather—farmers are shifting away from cocoa cultivation, which has led to soaring cocoa prices, reaching around $12,000 per ton in 2024.
Indonesia ranks as the world’s third-largest cocoa producer, after Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Farmers like Tari Santoso from South Sumatra collaborate with companies like Krakakoa to implement innovative agricultural practices. Techniques such as regular pruning, grafting, and the use of organic fertilizers help enhance cocoa growth. Furthermore, integrating crops like bananas and coffee into their farms is part of their agroforestry approach, designed to create a healthier farming ecosystem.
The partnership with Krakakoa, which has trained over 1,000 farmers and provides financial assistance, has markedly improved farming success. Farmers formed a cooperative that offers low-interest loans, enabling them to reinvest in their agricultural practices. Additionally, through guaranteed buyer agreements with businesses, farmers can secure the collateral necessary for larger loans from government-owned banks, further stabilizing their operations.
Cocoa farmers in Indonesia are proactively combating the impacts of climate change by collaborating with businesses and organizations. This partnership has introduced better agricultural practices, financial support, and cooperative structures, enhancing both crop yields and farmers’ livelihoods. The transition to more sustainable farming methods, combined with community-driven economic strategies, aims to secure the future of cocoa production in an increasingly uncertain climate.
Original Source: risingnepaldaily.com
