CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Nestlé says its Income Accelerator program has now reached 45,000 cocoa-farming families in Côte d’Ivoire, with a new independent evaluation reporting improvements in cocoa productivity, household income and resilience among participating farmers.
The findings come from a report by the KIT Institute, which assessed nearly 2,000 households participating in the program between 2022 and 2025. The initiative combines farm support, household support and conditional cash transfers aimed at helping cocoa-farming families move closer to a living income.
According to the evaluation, participating households increased cocoa yields by 4%, while yields among comparable households declined by 16% during the same period. Farmers in the program produced an average of 2,116 kilograms of cocoa during the challenging 2024/25 season, around 500 kilograms more than similar households outside the program.
The report also found that participating households recorded a 190% increase in cocoa income, driven by higher cocoa revenues. Savings levels improved significantly, while food insecurity declined and ownership of productive assets increased.
Women’s empowerment was another area highlighted in the study. The share of women classified as empowered more than doubled compared with 2022 levels, while participation in Village Savings and Loans Associations also increased.
Why this matters
The update comes at a time when the global cocoa sector continues to face pressure from climate volatility, crop disease, rising production costs and supply disruptions across West Africa.
For major chocolate and confectionery manufacturers, improving farm productivity and farmer incomes has become increasingly important for securing long-term cocoa supplies. Programs that strengthen resilience at farm level are viewed as a key tool in addressing supply chain risks while supporting sustainability commitments.
The evaluation suggests that participating households were better able to withstand difficult growing conditions than comparable farming communities, highlighting the growing role of sustainability programs in cocoa sourcing strategies.
The report also identified areas requiring further progress, particularly income diversification and longer-term education outcomes. Over the next year, researchers will examine factors including regenerative agriculture adoption, school attendance and additional income opportunities to help shape the next phase of the program.
Nestlé is also expanding its wider cocoa sustainability efforts through its involvement in the TogetherCocoa Foundation, which aims to promote industry collaboration and help address the living income gap across cocoa-growing communities.
As cocoa supply challenges continue to affect the global confectionery industry, the results provide insight into how major FMCG companies are working to strengthen the resilience of their agricultural supply chains.
