The VOICE Network Cocoa Barometer 2022 cites the LIRP as a good example – oh yeah!
Hot off the press! The higher price we pay for cocoa is cited by the Cocoa Barometer 2022 as a good example of helping cocoa farmers escape poverty.
SHOUT OUT FROM THE INDUSTRY FOR WHAT WE PAY FOR COCOA
Hot off the press! The higher price we pay for cocoa is cited by the Cocoa Barometer 2022 as a good example of helping cocoa farmers escape poverty.
And we agree with the report: West - African cocoa farmers are generally not paid enough for their cocoa. That makes it impossible for the average farmer to earn a living income – making a decent standard of living out of reach for them. This means that the entire household:
is well fed
has completed 6 years of school or is still in school
have access to necessary sanitary facilities, clean drinking water, electricity and a roof over their heads.
has one of the following possessions: radio, TV, telephone, computer, refrigerator, pet cart, bicycle, motorcycle, car or truck.
We also fully agree with the Cocoa Barometer 2022 on this point: because cocoa farmers are not able to earn a living income, this leads to poverty, while the is the number one cause of illegal labor in the cocoa industry. Poverty makes it difficult for parents with a cocoa farm to send their children to school. Instead, children have to help on the farm.
To earn a living income, cocoa farmers must receive the LIRP (Living Income Reference Price). This is a price we calculated together with Fairtrade, which we pay for all our cocoa - so we now pay 82% more than the farm gate price in Côte d'Ivoire. And, we are very happy that the LIRP is mentioned as “the example of how cocoa households get paid more for their cocoa” (p.22) in the Cacao Barometer 2022. The great thing is that we Fortunately, we are not the only ones paying the LIRP. Our Tony's Open Chain mission partners also pay this. A big round of applause for Ben & Jerry's, ALDI, Albert Heijn, Vly Foods, Jokolade, The Flower Farm, Korosource and PLUS supermarkets, because they also pay a higher price.
So it's time for ALL chocolate companies to follow this example. And, while we're on the subject, time for governments to adjust laws and regulations so that it becomes legally obligatory to pay a higher price for a living income. Because only together can we make 100% slave-free chocolate the standard.
Want to read the full Cocoa Barometer 2022 report? Dive right in!