By: Peter Munda Stevens
With funding from the European Union (EU) through the Agribusiness Development from Organic Resources (ADORE) project, Welt hunger hilfe (WHH) has officially handed over Cocoa Butter and Powder Processing Equipment to the Moawoma Women’s Cocoa Cooperative in Kenema District.
Giving an overview of the ADORE project’s objectives, WHH’s ADORE Project Manager, George Mugai, describing the event as the dawn of a new era for cocoa processing in the district. noting that the equipment procured under the ADORE project represents a significant achievement and promises substantial benefits for local cocoa farmers.
Mugai highlighted the comprehensive impact of the ADORE project, adding that the establishment of a fully electrified warehouse with a capacity of 500 metric tons, alongside four strategically located processing centers, including fermentation and buying centers.
He said currently 1,000 organic cocoa farmers have been trained and certified, with an additional 1,600 preparing to join the training, bringing the total to 2,600 farmers educated in organic farming practices.
He stated that the project has also equipped farmers with essential tools for effective farm management and facilitated training in budding, grafting techniques, fermentation protocols, and nursery establishment through expert consultants hired by WHH. He added that training on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been rolled out to enhance the agricultural practices of the trained farmers.
According to George Mugai, the establishment of the processing factory has improved market linkages for cocoa farmers, enabling them to secure higher prices for their cocoa beans.
Yatta Sama, Managing Director of the Moawoma Women Cocoa Cooperative expressed gratitude for the support and outlined the cooperative’s shared vision for growth and development.
Paramount Chief Representative and Speaker of the Tunkia Chiefdom, Chief Mohamed M. Mansaray underscored the project’s significance for the local communities, stating, it would create new opportunities and boost the local economy.
Speaking on the potential for public-private collaboration and the economic development opportunities arising from the partnership between his company and the Moawoma Women’s Cooperative, Capitol Trading Processing Factory Managing Director, Hamza Hashim, stressed the importance of such collaborations in driving sustainable growth, noting that it marks an important milestone in their shared mission to empower farming communities.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security II, Sahr Hemore, stressed the importance in strengthening agricultural value chains in Sierra Leone, asserting it would contribute to the country’s overall agricultural development strategy.
John Abu Kpawo, the EU’s Program Manager for Boosting Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the EU’s commitment to initiatives that align with the ADORE project’s development goals. He described the handover event as a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward sustainable agricultural development, while commending the collaboration among the EU, the Government of Sierra Leone, Capitol Foods, and the dedicated farmers.
The ceremony culminated with the formal presentation of facility ownership and equipment, along with the signing of official handover documents by WHH, Moawoma Women’s Cocoa Cooperative, and representatives from Capitol Trading and other dignitaries, marking a significant milestone in the project’s implementation.
