Abidjan: On a quiet morning in Gnamagnoa, in western Côte d'Ivoire, farmer François Dadi Serikpa harvests his coffee. The former bus driver switched to coffee farming after his retirement. The father of twelve children and grandfather of twenty-one grandchildren has found new meaning in life and newfound prosperity thanks to the Nescafé Plan, a global initiative launched by Nestlé to make coffee farming more sustainable, fair, and environmentally friendly.
According to Deutsche Welle, the Nescafé Plan has helped farmers like Serikpa by providing training on soil care, planting new varieties, and improving plantation management. Côte d'Ivoire, with its tropical climate and fertile soil, is ideal for growing Robusta coffee. Despite a significant decline in production from 380,000 tonnes in 2000 to under 47,000 tonnes in 2023 due to ageing plantations, climate change, and competition from other crops, coffee remains a vital commodity. It supports numerous rural households and contributes to regional trade in Central and West Africa.
To address these challenges, public and private stakeholders have implemented programs focusing on sustainable development and productivity. The Nescafé factory in Abidjan has been producing instant coffee from locally grown beans for over 65 years and employs hundreds of people, mainly Ivorian, who are trained to become certified coffee experts. In 2022, the factory received the Ivorian Government's national award for excellence in waste reduction and responsible operation.
Nestlé supports over 21,000 coffee-producing families in Côte d'Ivoire through the Nescafé Plan. Farmers receive training from agronomists on practices compliant with the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C standards). High-yield Robusta seedlings developed at Nestlé's Research and Development Centre in Zambakro are provided to improve productivity. These efforts are in partnership with the Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC) and the National Centre for Agricultural Research of Côte d'Ivoire (CNRA).
Nestlé also sources green coffee directly from farmer cooperatives through its Farmer Connect program. These interventions have led to significant yield improvements, ranging from 600 to 1200 kg per hectare, depending on climate conditions. Through its My Own Business initiative, Nestlé supports over 600 urban hot coffee vendors by providing equipment, training, and coffee stands, enabling them to generate stable incomes. This program aids young people in integrating into the social and economic fabric, as demonstrated by Kamenan Assanvo, who expanded his business with ten new coffee carts in Greater Abidjan.
Mame Pane Sakho, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire, emphasized the importance of investing in local farmers and entrepreneurs to build a strong, sustainable coffee industry. The history of Nescafé in Côte d'Ivoire reflects a shared value, from the Serikpa plantation in Gnamagnoa to the Assanvo coffee stands in Abidjan, each cup representing a shared commitment to quality and collaboration.