Dominican Republic
In this country, where more than a third of the population lives below poverty line and where unemployment rate was over 14% in 2012, growing cocoa is often the main economic activity in rural areas and the last safety net before rural exodus to crowded cities. It allows numerous families to live in decent conditions.
Since 1988, producers got organized and have created CONACADO: National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Producers.
At the present date, Kaoka works in partnership with more than 530 farmer’s households.
KAOKA brings its know-how and finances a plan of renovation of the old plantations implementing clonal gardens with selected varieties and demonstration plots.