KOKOA KAMILI – Chocolate from Tanzania
KOKOA KAMILI, Tanzanian cocoa
In the Kilombero Valley, on the edge of the Udzungwa Mountain National Park, smallholder farmers produce amazing cocoa. Here, the beans are grown in an agro-forestry system and on a small scale, amidst banana trees, corn and other crops. This production system is an ecological alternative to single plantations and helps preserve the island’s biodiversity.
Name: KOKOA KAMILI
Region: Morongo
Country: Tanzania
Organisation: 700 smallholder farmers benefit directly from higher prices for certified organic cocoa of superior quality. 4,000 farmers are trained in good agricultural practices. Kokoa Kamili employs 40 people.
Variety: Trinitario
Environmental action: Inter-cropping to create a natural buffer zone for the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a birdwatcher’s paradise and famous for its primates, elephants and wide variety of flora.
Electricity for the KOKOA KAMILI fermentation facility comes from solar energy. Tanzanian cocoa has a delicious flavour, but the fermentation and drying processes are not always up to standard in terms of health and safety. This is why KOKOA KAMILI has invested in extensive post-harvesting techniques.
Cocoa from the Kilombero valley was certified as organic in 2015. Thanks to this certification, the producers who supply cocoa to KOKOA KAMILI now benefit from higher prices. In total, 4,000 farmers are being trained in good farming practices to help improve the quality of the cocoa they grow.
In addition, the Southern Tanzania Elephant Project works with farmers to reduce and resolve conflicts arising from human-elephant interaction.