Cocoa-farming families engaged in Nestlé’s program experience improved yields and incomes

The report is based on a study conducted over the first 18 months of the income accelerator program, in which a sample of 2,000 households spanning 28 cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire were examined

Nestlé’s income accelerator program is helping cocoa farmers substantially improve cocoa productivity as well as increase their net income, according to a report published by KIT Institute. The report states that high-quality pruning of income accelerator cocoa farms contributed to a 32 per cent increase in cocoa yields. The total net income of income accelerator households rose by 38 per cent, resulting in a higher proportion of these households achieving a living income.

The report is based on a study conducted over the first 18 months of the income accelerator program, in which a sample of 2,000 households spanning 28 cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire were examined.

The study additionally found that Nestlé’s program has effectively mitigated diseases and pests on farms, thanks to the implementation of good agricultural practices. The program has facilitated income diversification, promoted financial access and positively influenced women’s empowerment and child schooling rates. School enrollment is a key focus area of the income accelerator program, and the proportion of children attending school increased by 10 per cent points (vs. 5 per cent points in the comparison group). 

Furthermore, there has been a remarkable surge in the proportion of households investing in small businesses, such as agro-processing, boutiques, barbershops or soap-making. The increase is more than double, rising from 21 per cent in 2022 to 55 per cent in 2023. At the time of the study, these activities were still in an exploratory phase and had not yet generated significant income changes.

The report is based on a study