With cocoa production becoming one of the growing cash crop markets in West Africa, the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (AVDP) has supported 3,000 Household Heads in Kenema, Kailahun, Kono, Pujehun, and Bo districts which are considered the main cocoa belt areas of Sierra Leone.  Overall, the AVDP is supporting 6000 farmers to cultivate 6, 000 hectares of cocoa variety by the end of 2024. Once transplanted from the nursery sites, this high-yielding fast-growing Mercedes cocoa variety is expected to bear fruits in less than two years before processing and marketing.
 
These youthful farmers are particularly excited about the prospect of becoming plantation owners in their respective communities, thanks to the Government of Sierra Leone and IFAD the main donor partner.

The 3000 farmers are now proud owners of a hectare of cocoa plantation. The project deployed facilitators and trained youth contractors from within the communities to carry out the nursery of the seeds before the seedlings were out-planted by the
farmers to their farms. During this period, the farmers were provided with hybrid cocoa seedlings and related planting materials including training in agronomic practices as well as other incentives to facilitate the cultivation process.

The farmers are taking proactive measures to enhance their cocoa cultivation, with some choosing to nurse a few of the harvested pods either to extend their farms or generously share with fellow community members.

One of the farmers, 35-year-old Lahai Koroma, of Baaka, Dama Chiefdom, Kenema District, recalls that “this variety has proven to be the best to replace the aged cocoa plantations.” Lahai said. “We love the fact that it bears within a short duration and yields better”. With high hopes of increasing their income and overall well-being, other farmers like Lahai are determined to expand the size of their plantations beyond the AVDP support in the coming years for the well-being of their families and communities.  The cocoa farmers are particularly gratified to the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security which is implementing the AVDP in the country. The project is also supporting another set of farmers in the production of inland valley swamp rice, vegetables, and oil palm in all four regions of the country.

The Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), a joint initiative supported by IFAD and the Government of Sierra Leone, has successfully empowered 3000 farmers to cultivate 3000 hectares as part of the project’s total target of 6000ha of the hybrid Mercedes cocoa variety, which is expected to yield in just 18 months. The farmers, who have expressed excitement about the project, have reported remarkable progress with the hybrid Mercedes cocoa seeds, with many providing positive testimonies about their experiences.