Route de cacao

Route de Cacao is Belfine’s sustainability program supporting 131 cocoa farmers in Tigorikro, Côte d'Ivoire. We promote a sustainable cocoa chain by training farmers year-round to improve yield and quality. Only the best beans are selected and undergo strict quality control at our post-harvest center, where trained experts ensure optimal fermentation for consistent chocolate taste.

Farmers meeting quality standards receive a Quality Premium on top of the Farmgate Price. Through the Chocolate Bonus, we improve farmers’ lives, while the Child Labour Monitoring System combats child labour. We also support nature conservation through agroforestry and land mapping. Monthly check-ins with local families and the women's association help us refine our projects.

The cocoa farmers of tigorikro

In the village of Tigorikro, Côte d'Ivoire, 131 cocoa farmers are at the heart of Route de Cacao, Belfine’s sustainability programme. These farmers receive year-round training to improve both the quality and yield of their cocoa. Only the finest beans are selected, fermented and dried with care. The producers are rewarded with a Quality Premium on top of the government-set price.

Through this programme, the farmers' livelihoods are uplifted, with projects supporting education, child protection, infrastructure, a livable income
and environmental conservation. From fighting child labour to planting trees and mapping farmland, the people of Tigorikro are building a brighter, more sustainable future.

Every month we check with two local families and the women's association to see how our social projects are progressing and whether we need to adjust our approach.

robert

"It used to be difficult to send our children to school because the nearest school was all the way in Abengourou. Since the school in Tigorikro has been there, all children - regardless of their origin - can be educated close by. There is no more discrimination."

emile

"The extra premiums increase my income, but also thanks to the bicycle, the water tank and the school, we now have more opportunities and more income for our family."

Premiums for the cocoa farmers

Everyone is entitled to a living income.

The cooperative working with the post-harvest centre in Tigorikro is Fairtrade certified. For their efforts of eco-friendly farming practices, proper working conditions and quality harvest, they receive a Fairtrade premium. This is often used to replace old trees and invest in better facilities for collecting, storing, transporting or processing the harvest. When the Farmgate Price goes below a certain threshold, the Fairtrade Minimum Price provides protection for farmers' cocoa income.

Since the 2021-2022 harvest year, cocoa farmers also receive a quality premium when they deliver fresh cocoa beans to the post-harvest centre in Tigorikro.

bicycles for the cocoa farmers

Mobility increases productivity!

During a visit to Tigorikro, we were told that the cocoa farmers needed a bicycle to travel to their plantations, so we activated the area around our factory in Lokeren.

The result: 253 donated bicycles that we shipped by container to Côte d'Ivoire to make both the farmers and the women's community, our local partners and the local primary school happy.

Access to drinking water

Access to drinking water is a basic right for every human being.

Following a groundwater analysis, a water borehole was drilled near the current school in 2023. Thanks to the accompanying solar-powered water tank, potable water is always available from taps.

At the request of local people, we are currently investigating the installation of water taps in the centre of the village.

school kits

Access to quality education is a basic right for every child!

Therefore, since the 2022-2023 school year, school kits have been distributed to one school-going child per family at the start of the school year. Such a school kit includes a backpack with school materials and a school uniform.

Our impact:
- 2022: 180 school kits
- 2023: 200 school kits
- 2024: 131 school kits

houses for teachers

From happy teachers you learn the best things!

This is why we felt it was important to fund the construction of 3 houses for the teachers of Tigorikro primary school. They now have decent housing near their work.

In January 2025, we attended the opening ceremony and listened attentively to the fine words of concerned officials and village leaders about the importance of education.

mill for the women

Women have equal rights to economic resources.

To strengthen women's socio-economic status and diversify family income, we funded the construction of a workshop and the purchase of a maize and rice mill in 2023.

It is the local women's association ‘Femme Battante’ that handles these activities.

Unfortunately, the women are experiencing technical problems with the mill and their income has been limited to date. We are currently looking at necessary actions with them to generate additional income.

Training for cocoa farmers

In the 2024-2025 harvest year, 131 cocoa farmers are affiliated to the post-harvest centre, including 19 women farmers.

During the previous harvest year (2023-2024), 100% of the farmers were trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Environmental Practices (GEP). The trainings covered pruning, plantation maintenance, chemical use and good environmental practices, among others.

In addition, 20 selected farmers received intensive coaching through Farm Improvement Plans (FIP) and monitoring visits. Thanks to targeted coaching in the field, topics such as crop management, pest and disease management, and soil fertility were addressed. Farm management received extra attention in this respect.

Thus, step by step, we are building a more sustainable future for our farmers and their environment.

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