small cocoa producers project

how you can help

• Your donation can provide these producers with essential infrastructure for high-quality cocoa production and very important continuous technical assistance to improve their yields without harming the environment.
• By sponsoring a part of these costs, you directly impact their lives and help protect the Amazon.
• Fermentation tanks and drying beds are critical for enhancing production techniques and enabling producers to sell their cocoa at premium prices.
• Technical assistance is done by local knowledgeable people that understand the special circumstances of each producing area.

how it works

• Each kit comprises two main components: Fermentation Tanks and Drying Beds.
• Smallholder producers contribute their labour to build this infrastructure on their properties.
• De Mendes Chocolates offers best-practices training and ensures a market for their premium cocoa. De Mendes also provides on-going specialized assistance with frequent visits of a technician who helps with crop improvement, quality standards’ compliance, which enables the inclusion of the producer in the fine cocoa supply chain.
• BKK Institute receives the resources, manages implementation, and ensures that the funds are used in the most efficient way.
• You can help by donating any amount to the BKK Institute to fund materials and assistance.
• The average cost of these materials, not found locally, is about US$ 900 per kit.
• The average cost of a technician’s visit is US$ 650, including logistics, food, lodging and knowledge transfer. Each visit includes assistance to 2-3 producers at a time.