Abidjan: On a quiet morning in Gnamagnoa, 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 African Press Organization, the Nescafé Plan has provided invaluable support to farmers like Serikpa. With guidance from Nestlé agronomists, farmers have learned how to care for their soil, plant new varieties, and manage their plantations more effectively. This has resulted in more resilient coffee trees and improved production. Côte d'Ivoire's tropical climate and fertile soil make it an ideal location for growing Robusta coffee, but the industry has faced challenges such as ageing plantations, climate change, and competition from other crops. Despite a decline in production from nearly 380,000 tonnes in 2000 to just under 47,000 tonnes in 2023, coffee remains a vital commodity supporting tens of thousands of rural households.
To address the decline, public and private stakeholders, including Nestlé, have implemented programs focused on sustainable development and productivity. The Nescafé factory in Abidjan, operational for over 65 years, produces instant coffee from locally grown beans and employs hundreds of people, contributing to local expertise and talent development. In 2022, the factory received a national award for excellence from the Ivorian government for its efforts in waste reduction and responsible operation.
Through the Nescafé Plan, Nestlé supports over 21,000 coffee-producing families in Côte d'Ivoire. Farmers receive training on sustainable practices aligned with 4C standards, and 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 and the National Centre for Agricultural Research of Côte d'Ivoire.
Nestlé also sources green coffee directly from farmer cooperatives through its Farmer Connect programme. For farmers like Serikpa, these initiatives have significantly improved yields, ranging from 600 to 1200 kg per hectare depending on climate conditions. Additionally, through the entrepreneurship support initiative My Own Business, Nestlé aids over 600 urban coffee vendors by providing equipment, training, and coffee stands, enabling them to generate stable incomes. This initiative has been particularly beneficial for young people integrating into the economic fabric, exemplified by entrepreneur Kamenan Assanvo, who expanded his network to 45 businesses with ten new coffee carts.
Mame Pane Sakho, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire, emphasized that investing in local farmers and entrepreneurs is crucial to building a strong and sustainable coffee industry, aiming to create a lasting impact in the communities they serve. The history of Nescafé in Côte d'Ivoire illustrates a shared commitment to quality and collaboration, from the Serikpa plantation in Gnamagnoa to the Assanvo coffee stands in Abidjan.