(Ecofin Agency) - In Cote d’Ivoire, cocoa farmers could soon have their own professional card. This is indeed one of the goals of the census scheme for farmers of the industry on which are currently working government and its partners.

According to Edouard N'guessan Kouassi, deputy director general of Ivorian Council for Coffee and Cocoa (CCC in French), “the operation will allow to better target aid to farmers, improve product’s tracking and making on-field transactions safer while favoring the implementation of a solid inter-profession which would rely on credible farmers associations”. The census will be followed by the mapping of farmers’ plots, Xinhua reports.

Last season, the cocoa output amounted to more than 20% of Cote d’Ivoire’s (global leading producer for the commodity) GDP.

Aaron Akinocho