Collaboration Multi-stakeholder to Develop Cocoa Sustainability

Makassar, October 19, 2022 – In strengthening the coordination and communication between members and its strategic partners, Cocoa Sustainability Partnership (CSP) had General Assembly Meeting which was held three times a year.

This meeting was held with the National Seminar of Sustainable Cocoa by the World Agroforestry (ICRAF) for the Sustainable Farming in Tropical (SFITAL) Program. The event was held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Dr. Sonya Dewi, Director of CIFOR – ICRAF Indonesia, welcomed the government representatives, CSP members and strategic partners, cocoa associations, and other cocoa observers. "On behalf of ICRAF and the organizers, I hope that this national seminar becomes a place for learning, sharing, and discussion for all of us in supporting sustainable cocoa in Indonesia," she said.

A remark was also delivered by Suharman Sumpala who invited all participant from various sectors to support each other in maintaining the environment conservation and cocoa sustainability. "I am optimistic in the future that the cocoa commodity can be victorious again and this sector will also be able to provide a better livelihood for farmers," said the CSP General Assembly Chairperson.

The series of events then continued with a presentation from Hj. Indah Putri Indriani, S.IP., M.Sc., the Regent of North Luwu District, regarding the sustainable cocoa roadmap for North Luwu District. She said that North Luwu was one of the largest cocoa producers nationally. Therefore, the government of North Luwu District committed to improving the livelihood of cocoa farmers, through sustainable cocoa practices. "This roadmap produced with SFITAL illustrates a fairly comprehensive approach through a jurisdictional approach and agroforestry landscape approach," she added.

Senior Ecological Modeling Scientist SFITAL-ICRAF, Betha Lusiana also reported several activities that had been carried out in the third year of the SFITAL project. "For capacity building, SFITAL has provided training to approximately 1,200 farmers who are selected from each farmer group who are involved and worked closely with district extension worker in providing intensive support," said Betha Lusiana.

Dr. Ir. Musdhalifah Machmud, MT., as Chairperson of CSP Advisory Board, also as Minister Deputy for Food and Agribusiness, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said that the government encouraged the realization of national food security while increasing people's income with the Food Estate program. Puspita Suryaningtyas, MBA., representing the Director of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas also said that the Indonesian government's commitment to the world was to support sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Furthermore, Director of Perennial and Refreshment Crops, Directorate General of State Crops, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ir. Hendratmojo Bagus H., M.Sc., in his presentation, said that multi-stakeholder collaboration in the development of plantation commodities from the upstream and downstream sectors needed to be strengthened and increased.

The events then continued with the presentation of the second quarter report of the CSP Executive Office. CSP Executive Director, Wahyu Wibowo said that the absorption of subsidized Special Formula NPK Fertilizer for cocoa would be accelerated from October to December 2022 in South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi which had received an additional allocation of 3,000 tons.

On the same occasion, Wahyu Wibowo also introduced a new member of CSP, PT. Sejahtera Ecologika Duta Quemika, a company providing insect pheremons for cocoa plantations. This plant-based pesticide was believed to be able to reduce the attack of several pests and diseases that attack cocoa plants.

In the discussion session, Mangantar David, the Sub-Coordinator of Perennial and Refreshment Crops, the Directorate General of State Crops, the Ministry of Agriculture, also attended the meeting. In his presentation, he said that the role of cocoa farmers was very significant in succeeding the development programs carried out by all stakeholders. (CSP/AV)