Fairtrade at 30: How Fairtrade has Impacted CAYAT

CAYAT is a cocoa, coffee and cashew nut producing co-operative based in the south-east of Ivory Coast, where around one-third of the population depend on cocoa for their livelihood.

Formed in 2010 with 283 members, CAYAT has grown to support over 3,000 members located across 38 villages in Ivory Coast.

Shared Interest and CAYAT

Shared Interest first provided finance to CAYAT in 2016, enabling them to increase production and meet growing cocoa demands. CAYAT have also used Shared Interest finance to develop a new office and warehouse facility, as well as to support their cashew trading.

Awa Traoré, CAYAT General Manager, said:

“The relationship with Shared Interest is of a great support to CAYAT’s financial autonomy."

Fairtrade and CAYAT

In 2023, CAYAT received 368,000 euros in Premium, with 72% of this from Fairtrade and 28% from Rainforest Alliance.

• 46% was used to support CAYAT members.
• 31% was used for operating expenditure.
• 23% was used for social projects such as education and infrastructure.

 In 2012, they gained Fairtrade certification for their cocoa. General Manager, Awa Traoré, told us:

“Thanks to the certifications, we were allowed to put in place many social development projects in our communities."

As a result of the Fairtrade Premium, CAYAT have been able to:

• Build schools in remote areas to increase access to education and have refurbished a college for secondary school students.
• Support over 100 women to become part of the trade and increase their income with various programs.
• Develop agroforestry projects as well as an agroforestry nursery with over 55,000 plants.

Aboudramane Traore, CAYAT Sustainability and Export Manager, said:

"Fairtrade is truly the Rolls Royce of certifications because it has allowed the co-operative to develop and increase the quality of life of its members.”

Fairtrade represents the voices of two million small-scale farmers and workers. Thank you for reading more about how Fairtrade has impacted CAYAT, one of 175 organisations we are proud to support with fair finance.

Learn more about CAYAT here.

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