NICACAO - Strengthening the cocoa value chain

The project aims to transform the cocoa value chain in rural areas of Matagalpa department and Waslala district, located in Centre North of Nicaragua, focusing on quality, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. It strengthens cocoa producers' skills, promotes circular economy practices, and ensures deforestation-free, traceable value chains.

Directly involved 2.440 people (804 F/1.636 M): 700 cocoa producers (105 F/585 M), members of the 4 major cooperatives; 1.600 producers with organic certification (640 F/960 M); 60 rural promotors (24 F/36 M) and 80 (35 F/45 M) small entrepreneurs in various project actions, such as cocoa transformation, organic certification, and risk management. Indirectly involved are 12.200 people (6.200 F/6.000 M).

This project is crucial due to Nicaragua's agricultural potential, its vulnerability to natural disasters, and its need for economic development. Despite being one of the poorest countries in Central America, Nicaragua has significant agricultural resources, including fertile land not yet fully utilized. Cocoa cultivation presents a key opportunity for growth, particularly as it can adapt to climate change, replacing coffee plantations in areas impacted by rising temperatures. The project supports sustainable cocoa production, enhancing environmental resilience, biodiversity conservation, and water management. By strengthening the cocoa value chain, the initiative aims to improve economic dynamics, climate resilience, and food security, empowering rural communities, especially women and youth, while contributing to Nicaragua's long-term sustainable development. horizont3000 is the implementing organisation. The four main partner organisations are cooperatives: CACAONICA, Nueva Waslala, Flor de Dalia, and La Campesina (experience in cocoa production, processing and export). Six additional cooperatives benefit from the actions in traceability and risk management: Association of Mothers and Relatives of War Victims, Jorge Salazar Cooperative, Ríos de Agua Viva, Flor de Pancasán, CACHERCAM, and COMPRIO.

• Analyse and promote best practices for rehabilitating cocoa plantations by providing equipment and high-quality genetic materials
• Train producers, especially women and youth, in agroforestry and farm management, focusing on the use of digital tools
• Support biodiversity conservation and improve environmental benefits in cocoa agroforestry
• Enhance infrastructure and capacities for cocoa collection, fermentation, and drying
• Strengthen the use of international quality standards throughout the cocoa value chain
• Assess and improve cocoa traceability systems in line with EU regulations
• Develop digital tools for traceability and quality management, focusing on youth and women
• Empower women, youth, and indigenous communities through inclusive cocoa business models
• Strengthen traceability of cocoa genetic material for quality and market differentiation
• Create an Early Warning System (SAT) to address climate variability & improve risk management capacities of 10 cooperatives