FestiCacao: Transformation as priority

Trade Minister appreciates the participation of women in the various value chains of cocoa farming.

The 4th edition of the Festival de Cacao (Festicacao) 2015, organized by the Interprofessional Council of Cocoa and Coffee (CICC) has attracted a big world last Friday and Saturday in Yaounde.

For two days, the Palace of Sports became a place of discovery and tasting of cocoa derivatives. There were chocolate spreads, caramel, candy caffeine, chocolate truffles, liquor, and cocoa butter.

Also, there were cosmetics made from based butter and cocoa powder: toilet soap, oil, cream, lotion, and others. Therapeutic products were also visible in the stands, held mostly by women, of artisan chocolate pots.

Placed at the center of this event, the Cameroonian woman has rightly been glorified and honoured, thanks to her contribution and investment in the cocoa sector.

Trade Minister (MINCOMMERCE), Luc Magloire Atangana Mbarga chaired the launching ceremony of this event, along with his counterpart of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary. He was confident and satisfied with the active participation of women in the sector.

According to MINCOMMERCE, women have the ability and desire to become true professionals in cocoa. He also indicated that many efforts have been made in the field of the production of cocoa and even product quality.

The transformation has also reached an appreciable level without forgetting exports, which are increasingly sought. On the packaging, Luc Magloire Atangana Mbarga said that a special effort should be made to add more appeal.

Meanwhile, the cocoa farmers spoke of their determination to work in the sector. The farmers stated that their only handicap are the lack of means well as expertise.

"The industry is not complicated, but we need manpower and money to produce more and meet the demand which is increasingly strong," says Suzanne Ndzie, a cocoa farmer.

During the lectures and discussions of this edition, it was accepted that cocoa is not necessarily a male activity. But some constraints make it hard for women, including access to land ownership. We also note that most of the time, the financial power is controlled by men and that the activity is physically demanding.

But according to Kate Kanity-Tomedi Fotso, the first producer of cocoa in Cameroon, all these handicaps can be overcome. This is possible especially now that the ICAC is willing to accompany women in providing financial and technical support.