Amsterdam Cocoa Week still has us filled with enthusiasm, particularly its focus on farmer resilience in the cocoa sector. Hosted by the World Cocoa Foundation and Chocoa, the event provided a platform to continue the conversation on living incomes, forest protection, gender equity, and child labor. This year, healthcare emerged as a central pillar of farmer resilience.

We co-organized a panel and side session that opened ways for a more inclusive sustainability dialogue.

Access our presentation here

While discussions on human rights in responsible sourcing often focus narrowly on issues like forced labor and child labor, it’s essential to recognize that human rights encompass a broader spectrum, including the human right to health. Child labor often emerges as a visible symptom of deeper underlying issues, particularly farmer poverty. One of the main drivers of poverty in producing countries, is high healthcare expenses, with approximately 100 million people worldwide being pushed into poverty due to high medical costs each year.

During the panel, it was emphasized that farmers allocate a majority of their earnings to healthcare, significantly impacting productivity and income. When farmers face health issues, their productivity declines, affecting their ability to earn a living.

So, even if farmers would earn a living income, health expenses have the power to push people below the poverty line if social protection mechanisms aren’t available.

The side session focused on the link between healthcare and agriculture, highlighting challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Keynote speakers discussed ROI for healthcare programs, offering valuable insights for actionable strategies.

Throughout the session, a common thread emerged: Health has often been overlooked in discussions on protecting farmers’ income, increasing productivity, and reducing child labor. As Pabla van Heck, LL.M. shared, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are existing successful initiatives and models in healthcare access that we can learn from and adapt to the specific needs of smallholder farmers. By building upon proven strategies and leveraging lessons learned, we can accelerate progress towards equitable healthcare access for cocoa farmers, improving their health and long-term livelihoods.

Emmanuel Sarpong, Union President of Asunafo Cocoa Farmers and President of Fairtrade Ghana Network:

Shared impactful narratives from farming communities in Ghana. He shed light on how poor health not only diminishes household productivity but also strains finances, with high healthcare costs often unexpectedly depleting funds needed for farming inputs and other essentials. The responsibility of caring for sick children further reduces farmers’ ability to work, adding to the strain of decreased income. Emphasized was the need to address healthcare disparities at the community level, bringing together government initiatives and private sector engagement for long-term impact.

Eleni Theodorou, from the We Share Forward Foundation:

Advocated for more private sector investment in healthcare. She emphasized that healthcare is not just a social responsibility but also a strategic business opportunity that boosts companies’ economic resilience.

Dr. Samuel Knauss:

Drawing upon Elucid’s research and academic literature, his analysis revealed the economic burdens imposed by medical emergencies and malaria, emphasizing their profound impact not only on individual farmers but also on wider economic systems and the cocoa supply chain. Samuel underscored the urgency of addressing these challenges and highlighted the potential for targeted interventions such as vaccination campaigns or health insurance to promote sustainable development and enhance livelihoods within farming communities.