(Business in Cameroon) - On April 10, 2015, a World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) delegation visited Log-Nkoll in the Coastal region to distribute agricultural materials to young cocoa farmers under the auspices of the Inter-professional Cocoa and Coffee Board (CICC) within the framework of its “New Generation” programme which aims to get young people interested in cocoa farming in Cameroon.

Comprising watering cans, sprayers, boots, gloves and other masks, the estimated 12 million FCFA donation started the implementation of the partnership agreement signed on December 11, 2014 in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, between the CICC and the World Cocoa Foundation, within the framework of the Africa Cocoa Initiative launched by the NGO and financed by American billionaire Bill Gates in order to promote a sustainable cocoa economy in Africa.

Indeed, via the above-mentioned agreement, WCF committed to granting the CICC 125,000 dollars initial financing (around 62 million FCFA) to provide support to 50 young people recruited by Cameroon’s Inter-professional Cocoa and Coffee Board within the “New Generation” programme.

Launched in June 2012, the programme offers training and support for young graduates of agricultural training centres who agree to cultivate at least three hectares of cocoa plants. According to the CICC, to date, the programme, which will benefit 600 young people this year, has helped to create over 1,800 hectares of new cocoa plantations. This contributed to a 2,500-tonne increase in premium cocoa production, says the cocoa-coffee organisation.