(Business in Cameroon) - The Inter-professional Cocoa and Coffee Board (CICC) plans to create 900 hectares of cocoa in Cameroon over the 2015-2016 period through the New Generation programme, which is intended to rejuvenate producers. This was announced by heads of the cooperative organisation at the last International Cocoa Festival (Festicacao) on December 11, 2014.

Started two years ago, the programme which provides support to young cocoa farmer graduates of the country’s agricultural training centres over a three-year period, each of whom commits to creating a minimum of three hectares of cocoa, has already helped to create 566 hectares of new farms.

Through this programme, the CICC hopes to achieve a significant increase in cocoa farming and also bring youth to the production effort as the current average age is as high as 80 years in some farming regions according to a study conducted by the inter-professional organisation.