Nestlé Initiative Helps Cocoa Farmers Achieve 18% Higher Yields Amid Tough Harvest Conditions

Image Credit: Nestlé

Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Programme is making a clear difference for cocoa-farming families in Côte d’Ivoire, according to a new independent review by the KIT Institute.

The 2024 evaluation reveals that families involved in the programme are seeing measurable improvements in income, resilience, and overall well-being, even in the face of a tough cocoa season.

The 2023 to 2024 cocoa harvest was among the weakest in recent years, largely due to harsh weather conditions. Yet farmers participating in Nestlé’s initiative managed to produce 18 per cent more cocoa than their peers who were not enrolled. That boost in yield translated into a 15 per cent increase in total net household income when compared to the control group.

The review looked at results from the first 30 months of the programme’s wider rollout, covering around 2,000 households across 28 cooperatives. One of the standout findings was the healthier state of farms under the programme, largely due to better farming practices like pruning, weeding, managing shade, and controlling pests. Composting was also introduced during this period, adding another layer of sustainability.

Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the company’s main cocoa-sourcing countries. “We welcome the interest of governments and other industry players in our approach,” he stated. 

Beyond agriculture, the programme has helped strengthen household resilience, improve food security, and support child welfare. A key feature of the approach is that financial incentives are distributed directly to both heads of households through mobile money. This setup promotes gender equity and helps ensure families are financially stable.

Darrell High, Nestlé Cocoa Manager, noted that the company continues to refine the programme based on farmer feedback and independent reviews. “This report confirms that even in a challenging year, the programme is making a real difference,” he said. 

Informed by feedback from partners and communities, the next phase of the programme will streamline its incentive model while still offering financial support. Future incentives will focus on two core areas: encouraging farm improvements through pruning and supporting education by promoting school enrolment.

Launched in January 2022, the Income Accelerator aims to close the gap between current earnings and a living income, while also reducing the risk of child labour by rewarding positive actions both on the farm and at home.

What began as a small pilot in 2020 with just 1,000 families has since expanded to include 30,000 households. Nestlé plans to scale that number to 50,000 by 2026 and reach 160,000 by 2030.