As the negative effects of climate change hits closer home, the need for farmers to engage in responsible farming becomes more imperative, to this end Nestlé has launched a project aimed at helping Coffee growers across Africa, and most especially in West Africa to imbibe more responsible farming processes that promote sustainability and also protect the soil from depletion and erosion. This project according to company sources is aimed at impacting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in the region to help them make more for themselves and their families and also their communities.
In recognition of its efforts at preserving the environment and promoting sustainability, the NESCAFÉ factory in Cote d’Ivoire has for the third consecutive time this year, won the Eco-Citizen prize at the National Excellence Awards in the country. The factory was equally recognized for releasing only purified water into the environment and for none of its waste ending up in landfills. With our communities at heart, our coffee business upholds Nestlé’s worldwide commitment to protecting and safeguarding the environment and resources.
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NESCAFÉ business which forms part of Nestlé’s NESCAFÉ Global Plan is committed to sourcing coffee beans for Nestlé responsibly, through sustainability programs. Under the Plan, Nestlé teaches coffee farmers how to grow coffee in a way that protects the environment. Nestlé has also reached over 13,000 farmers across the region, through Agripreneurship programs.
In addition to the earnings farmers make for their produce, they receive premium payments from Nestlé. Speaking on this initiative, Head of Agricultural Services, Nestlé Central and West Africa, Fatih Ermis highlights how impactful this is to farmers, “This premium allows farmers to have better livelihoods by earning additional income. Last year, Nestlé paid more than $865,000 in premiums to coffee farmers across the region. We are continuing in this vein this year, with a little over $841,000 paid to our coffee farmers, from January 2019 to date.” The company also said that because of the business relationship it has developed with the farmers, the NESCAFÉ consumed in Central and West Africa region is indigenous to the region as it sources over 15,000MT of coffee from Cote d’Ivoire.
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Moreso, the company has launched a project that is committed to creating jobs and enabling entrepreneurship. Under the initiative named “My Own Business” (MyOwBu), Nestlé teaches young people how to manage their own micro-enterprise. The company also gives them training on sales, management, hygiene, safety and quality standards. This has a domino effect because these youth, now equipped with skills are encouraged to and often employ up to 10 other street vendors.
The Business Executive Officer of Nestlé Professional, an out-of-home service of Nestlé said that over 4,000 youth across the region have benefitted from this entrepreneurial opportunity. With this financial empowerment, they are on the right path to financial independence. “My proudest moments on the job are when I see how the lives of these vendors are transformed for the better” she said.
Critics however scoff at the above claims not because they are false but because the company is giving back just a very infinitesimal part of its profits from same farmers back in the name of community social responsibility. They opine that the best thing for Africa is to develop processing capabilities within the continent so that Africans can make real gain from their sweats instead of continuing enriching European transnationals who give crumbs in the name of ploughing back profits.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.