In Conversation with Mr. Michael Titoe, Ministry of Agriculture

Michael Titoe is the principal economist at Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture. Also responsible for the Ministry’s cocoa and coffee portfolios, he describes the importance of the Cocoa of Excellence programme and learnings from Liberia’s inaugural participation this year.

What is the Cocoa of Excellence programme and why is it important to Liberia?

Cocoa of Excellence is a global competition held every two years that awards high quality cocoa possessing diverse flavours. Cocoa-producing countries from across the world submit up to five samples which are sent to Rome for analysis. From there, the samples are sent to Paris for further scrutiny and the top 50 samples are selected for the Cocoa of Excellence awards.

This was the first time for Liberia to participate in such a programme. We are trying to promote quality cocoa production that meets international standards so that Liberia will become more competitive on the international market. We are also trying to market our cocoa worldwide. Being recognised as a high quality producer by Cocoa of Excellence means we will become marketable to international premium chocolate companies.

How is the Government of Liberia supporting the process?

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) chairs the Cocoa of Excellence national organising committee. Our role is to provide supervision and coordination to make sure everything goes smoothly. The MoA also participated in cocoa sensory training conducted by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so we know how to test and select samples for Cocoa of Excellence.

The Minister of Agriculture chairs the board of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), which regulates quality standards. We have conducted a lot of trainings for farmers and cooperatives to make sure the quality of the cocoa they produce is competitive on the regional and international markets.

How are Liberian cocoa producers faring, and what can be done to improve future performance?

Almost all of the cocoa produced in Liberia is chemical free. We have smallholder farms rather than cocoa plantations, meaning deforestation caused by the cocoa sector in neighbouring countries is not reflected here. Our farmers are strongly advised against any form of deforestation. We also take reports of child labour very seriously. The MoA is paying close attention to these issues, which are all important considerations taken into account by the judges.

This time, none of our samples reached the top 50 because they did not meet the required standards with respect to flavour, aroma and mould content. The cocoa needs to be well fermented and dried. That’s where we need to improve.

We are disseminating information to our farmers so that they will observe the rules set by the International Cocoa Organization and the chocolate companies to make sure we produce what is required. Our aim is to do everything possible to ensure that next time at least one or two participants will win an award and raise awareness for the availability of good quality, fine flavour cocoa in Liberia. That will give our farmers access to the international market and the specialty chocolate companies. Though we are frustrated by the outcome this year, it has served as a learning opportunity and gives us room to participate actively in the next edition and start advance preparations to ensure we send high quality samples that are in compliance with the criteria.

About GROW Liberia

GROW is an agribusiness and investment advisory agency that partners with businesses, investors, associations and government agencies to accelerate inclusive economic returns within high-growth industries in Liberia. We promote forest-friendly cocoa production by discouraging deforestation, promoting the rehabilitation of existing farms, and championing the use of organic farming methods. GROW is also providing support to businesses seeking to market Liberian cocoa to international buyers who are willing to pay more for forest-friendly cocoa. In addition, we offer facilitation and guidance to buyers seeking to source high-quality, sustainably-produced Liberian cocoa.