Colombia: ICRC helps cocoa farmers make a living

16-10-2012 Feature

The ICRC is supporting agricultural projects that help people feed themselves and generate an income in five of Colombia's regions: Guaviare, Nariño, Cauca, Caquetá and Putumayo. So far, 4,340 people living in remote areas have benefited.

ICRC-supported projects include three to promote the production of cocoa. “Cocoa is very marketable and there is high demand for it," explains Fabio, who is taking part in a project in lower Caguán. "We have started off by planting 500 trees given to us by the ICRC, and are now waiting for them to grow. We hope to produce organic cocoa and have it certified, so that we can sell it for a good price and help the community and our families; there are four of us in my household who depend on this crop.”

The ICRC has also been helping people to grow sugarcane, rice and traditional food staple crops and to raise cattle, chickens and pigs. All the projects were set up in consultation with the communities concerned, to ensure that they would bring help where it was most needed.

Photos

Colombia: producing cocoa can be a way for people in a conflict-affected area to increase their incomes. 

Colombia: producing cocoa can be a way for people in a conflict-affected area to increase their incomes.
© ICRC / B. Heger / v-p-co-e-02114