Kuapa Kokoo
Encyclopedia
Kuapa Kokoo is a cocoa farmer
s' cooperative
organisation, established in Ghana
in 1993. It was formed following the Ghanaian government's liberalisation
of internal cocoa marketing in 1992, which, farmers feared, would lead to the entry of private companies into the market with whom they would be unable to compete. The organisation is often cited as a success story in the field of fair trade
, its products being used in many Fairtrade-labelled
products. It is the largest cooperative in Ghana, and counts 45,000 cocoa growers as members.
The Day Chocolate Company (a UK company, now Divine Chocolate) was set up by Kuapa Kokoo in 1997. The company uses primarily Kuapa cocoa, and the cooperative also holds 45% of Divine Chocolate's stock. Today Kuapa has 45000 farmer members in 1100 villages, and provides 10% of Ghana's cocoa supply. Day Chocolate Company sales rose to over £5m in 2004. Between 1993 and 2004 Kuapa received just over $2m in extra Fairtrade premiums. Some was paid to the farmers, some went on projects such as the construction of four new schools.
2008 6,130 35,500 12.9%
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s' cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
organisation, established in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
in 1993. It was formed following the Ghanaian government's liberalisation
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
of internal cocoa marketing in 1992, which, farmers feared, would lead to the entry of private companies into the market with whom they would be unable to compete. The organisation is often cited as a success story in the field of fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
, its products being used in many Fairtrade-labelled
Fairtrade labelling
Fairtrade certification is a product certification system designed to allow people to identify products that meet agreed environmental, labour and developmental standards. Overseen by a standard-setting body, Fairtrade International , and a certification body, FLO-CERT, the system involves...
products. It is the largest cooperative in Ghana, and counts 45,000 cocoa growers as members.
The Day Chocolate Company (a UK company, now Divine Chocolate) was set up by Kuapa Kokoo in 1997. The company uses primarily Kuapa cocoa, and the cooperative also holds 45% of Divine Chocolate's stock. Today Kuapa has 45000 farmer members in 1100 villages, and provides 10% of Ghana's cocoa supply. Day Chocolate Company sales rose to over £5m in 2004. Between 1993 and 2004 Kuapa received just over $2m in extra Fairtrade premiums. Some was paid to the farmers, some went on projects such as the construction of four new schools.
Export
Year -- Fairtrade sales (tonnes) -- Total sales (tonnes) -- Fairtrade sales as % of total- 1999 450 19,139 2.4%
- 2000 850 32,506 2.6%
- 2001 400 34,388 1.2%
- 2002 650 37,388 1.7%
- 2003 1,300 37,108 3.5%
- 2004 1,800 62,900 2.9%
- 2005 2,550 40,377 6.3%
- 2006 2,500 32,275 7.7%
- 2007 4,250 35,000 12.0%
2008 6,130 35,500 12.9%