Feeling part of the cooperative
The impact story of SOCAK KATANA
SOCAK KATANA is a cocoa cooperative in Duékoué, in the west of Cote d’Ivoire. Over 3,000 smallholder farmers produce cocoa for the cooperative. The cooperative is Fairtrade certified, and 67% of the farmers are UTZ certified.
In 2021, the cooperative received a loan from the Agri-Business Capital Fund (ABC Fund) of €750,000
As part of the ABC Fund loan, SOCAK KATANA also received technical and advisory services support through the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility, managed by Agriterra, to strengthen the organisation by focusing on a strategic business plan and member loyalty.
The first part of the TA support was to develop a strategic business plan, which has resulted in management and staff being able to plan better and have a clearer vision and more control. The values, mission and long-term objectives of the cooperative have been formalised and shared and are known by all members. This has improved the overall future vision of the organisation. Managers feel more involved. The cooperative is aiming for a better distribution of wealth and increased income for its members.
Mr Lassana Traore, farmer and member of SOCAK KATANA, noticed the changes himself: “Board members and the management team have a good understanding of the organisation, operation and structure of cooperatives. The cooperative spirit is well established. The cooperative has a strategic development plan; it knows where it is going, when it is going and how to get there. Resource people have been appointed to lead this.”
The second part of the TA was about increasing member awareness and loyalty. Mr Traore spoke about what changes he has experienced, saying that before the TA, “I just sold my cocoa to the cooperative, they paid me, and I went home. I did not know what a cooperative meant.” He did not pay the contribution fee because he understood little of what he was told and thought they would just take his money and do nothing with it. He had difficulties paying for fertilisers and getting by during times with no cocoa harvest.
After a training course where the cooperative explained what the benefits were of belonging, he understood the advantages. He has decided to pay his fee. He now participates in general assemblies and has a say during meetings.
The cooperative increased its membership from 1,275 farmers in 2015 to 3,085 in 2020. It is doing better financially: SOCAK increased its internal capitalisation by 60%, which results in a potential 30–40% increase in collected volumes for the cooperative. Thus, the cooperative can now increase its commitments to its customers and keep developing its business.
Mr Traore has noticed some significant changes: “Children eat well. I have less worries myself. I pay for the fertiliser on credit and I get paid according to my deliveries. If the cooperative wants to do something that is not right, we can talk and say no.”
In his area are over 450 farmers who he feels share his experience. “Our children go to school like other children and our women are more fulfilled, thanks to the cooperative.”
