Barry Callebaut clean water campaign launched in Ivorian cocoa villages
Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut, the world's largest cocoa processor, has teamed up with its subsidiary, Biopartenaire, to deliver LifeStraw water filters and health and hygiene training to cocoa farming communities in the Ivory Coast.
The project began on February 17 2015. It will continue through April in villages in the Taabo Toumodi and Oumé regions of the West African country, where Biopartenaire works directly with village-based cocoa farmer groups.
Over the course of the campaign, Barry Callebaut plans to distribute 1,300 household filters and 120 community filters.
More than 12,000 people, particularly children under the age of five, are expected to benefit directly.
“Providing filters to schools and health centres increases the availability of clean, safe water throughout the day for children and other people,” said Marina Morari, general manager community development, Barry Callebaut.
“And, by training farmers, mothers, teachers, health workers and our local teams, we aim to promote and encourage good health and hygiene practices.”
This campaign "complements" previous Barry Callebaut efforts to guarantee funding for boreholes, water towers, toilets in schools and other infrastructure.
Through such efforts, Barry Callebaut hopes to improve the living conditions of people in these communities, boost farm productivity, and ultimately make cocoa farming in the Ivory Coast sustainable.
