La Loma, March 31, 2023
As part of its commitment to the comprehensive development of the region, Drummond Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement with Agroemprende Cacao to improve the productivity and competitiveness of cacao crops in the municipality of Agustin Codazzi, in benefit to 75 families in the Perija Cacao Growers Association (Asocope).
The event, held at the Comfacesar Auditorium in Agustin Codazzi, was attended by the Mayor of that municipality, the Regional Municipal Planning Council, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD), Fedecacao, the Departmental Cacao Board, Socodevi (Société de coopération pour le développement international) and representatives of the 75 families that will participate in the project. There, in a symbolic act, those present signed a commitment to work toward the achievement of the goals set.
“This partnership is very important because it is going to aid in the productive transformation of our region with support from the company Drummond and Socodevi. Codazzi has 850 hectares of cacao, but they are not very productive. This project will help 75 families make their cacao crops more productive,” declared Omar Benjumea, Mayor of Agustin Codazzi.
Agroemprende Cacao is a program developed by Socodevi and supported nationwide by the Canadian Embassy in Colombia and other members of the public, private, and international cooperation sectors. Since 2019 the program has made a contribution to each link in the value chain for cacao.
“Agroemprende Cacao is financed by the Canadian government in partnership with private and public organizations in the energy mining sector across the country. This partnership with Drummond Ltd. supports the work we are currently doing in the Department of Cesar. It has an impact on Asocope and creates well-being in the community of Agustin Codazzi by strengthening the cocoa value chain and making it more professional, generating greater wealth for everyone,” pointed out Ruben Escamilla, Socodevi representative in Colombia.
The goal of the partnership is to strengthen and consolidate the work of the cacao growers, and help Asocope develop best practices for business management and governance. The program provides strategies for cocoa production – from growing to selling the dried cocoa beans – with an eye towards stabilizing the price of the product, which will undoubtedly improve the quality of life of cocoa farmers in Agustin Codazzi.
“Empowerment through technical support is essential in order to be competitive in the market. This has a positive impact on income generation for these families. That’s why Drummond Ltd.’s Social Management Plan continues to strengthen the business sector and promote income generation to improve productivity and infrastructure in a variety of economic sectors,” stated Amali Blanco Bohorquez, Social Responsibility Project Coordinator at Drummond Ltd.
Liliana Angulo, President and legal representative of Asocope, said, “This is the first time we have partnered with Drummond Ltd., which is a flagship multinational in Cesar. It is very important to us to have signed this partnership agreement because it is going to benefit 75 cacao growing families in the Serrania Mountains of Perija. It is important for them because they are going to increase their productivity, they are going to reforest, and they are going to improve their quality of life.”
Some of the actions that will help this partnership meet its objectives include the donation of inputs and tools for good crop management, the replanting of more than 75 hectares of cacao, and the building and equipping of 50 to 75 post-harvest units.
The goal of this support is to increase the region’s annual productivity by 20% to 25%, which will bring tangible benefits to the inhabitants of the region through the work of Drummond Ltd. and Agroemprende Cacao. There will also be complementary benefits to all sectors, such as the effective empowerment of the women of the region and the implementation of agro-environmental practices.
In addition, strengthening Asocope’s business skills will include cooperative business development missions, training for management personnel, the creation of a marketing fund, participation in sales events for the business, and other activities to strengthen the association and, by extension, directly empower Agustin Codazzi’s families.
This partnership, which brings together Drummond Ltd, Agroemprende Cacao (developed by Socodevi) and Asocope, has a planned duration of 27 months.
United for cacao in Perija!