Liberia Cocoa Corporation

Liberian cocoa beans have been discounted due to inconsistent and poor quality stemming from the absence of training, post-harvest knowhow, storage practices and access to finance. The bulk cocoa market holds farmers in a cycle of poverty and no Fairtrade certified cocoa products are produced in Liberia, despite the fertile soil and optimal climate.

Liberia Cocoa Corporation is a locally-owned social enterprise on a mission to prove that premium certified organic cocoa beans and organic chocolate can be produced at scale in Liberia. The goal is to raise the overall quality of Liberian cocoa beans by transitioning smallholder farmers from conventional farming to regenerative farming, enabling farmers to earn higher incomes selling a product in high demand locally and internationally.

To date, Liberia Cocoa has trained over 3,000 farmers, primarily women who face economic hardship that make it difficult for them to meet their basic needs.

Kiva's loan will enable Liberia Cocoa to buy additional equipment, obtain Fair Trade certifications, train farmers, and improve working capital for marketing, packaging, and exporting products. It will support improved incomes for 522 smallholder farmers and jobs for 48 company employees. This is Liberia Cocoa’s second loan through the Kiva Social Enterprise program. View their previous loan here.