These centers, built in the localities of Lembe-Yézoum in Haute Sanaga and Ntui in Mbam and Kim, were inaugurated on October 20 and 22, 2020 by the Ministers of Trade and Agriculture. The Lembe-Yezoum Center of Excellence for post-harvest cocoa processing in the Haute Sanaga department is located in the village of Nguinda I, and that of Ntui, in the Bindalima village in the Mbam and Kim division.
These Centers of Excellence were set up as part of Cameroon’s Cocoa of Excellence program initiated by the Interprofessional Cocoa and Coffee Council (CICC),
For the Minister of Commerce, “it is about valuing the work of producers and allowing them to derive the substantive marrow, I mean fair retribution, from the fruit of their hard work. They have often been considered as the last wheel of the coach for the benefit of the other links in the chain which are the exporting buyers and the industry.”
Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, who adds that the inauguration of these Centers of excellence in post-harvest treatment “reflects the desire of the public authorities to constantly seek viable and reliable solutions for the well-being of populations, especially producers. Through the production of highly remunerative cocoa “
The establishment of these Centers of Excellence for post-harvest cocoa processing has several objectives: respect for good agricultural and environmental practices; the application of a demanding post-harvest protocol and traceability; promoting women’s work and the integration of young people; savings and transparency in the redistribution of the price to planters.
Regarding the prices, the French master chocolatier Daniel Mercier “made a commitment to the producers that they will buy the kilogram of cocoa coming out of these centres of excellence at a price of 1640 FCFA. That is at least 640 francs more than what is practised outside Centers of Excellence “. A price increase which is due “to the quality of cocoa coming out of the bowels of these Centers of Excellence for post-harvest processing.”
The Lembe Yezoum and Ntui Centers of Excellence are in addition to the four others already established in Zoétélé, Akomnyada, Si-Mayaï and Bessombé.
