A delegation from the German Bundestag led by Bundestag Vice President Thomas Oppermann visited the GISCO project PRO-PLANTEURS on 21 February. The three members of the Parliamentary Group of West Africa learned at the COOPROYA cooperative in Adzopé how cocoa is cultivated, harvested and in the first stages processed locally. Project manager Judith Steffens and her team also informed Thomas Oppermann (SPD), Jessica Tatti (Die Linke) and Dr. Karamba Diaby (SPD) about the main approaches of the project and the four project components. They were supported by the trainers responsible for training the farmers.

For all of them this was their first trip to the origins and a very impressive experience. "PRO-PLANTEURS is a very good project. We will bring the news to Germany that it takes hard work and also expertise to produce cocoa," said Thomas Oppermann. And he added a special appreciation of the project work done so far. "We will continue to support the PRO-PLANTEURS project and increase our support or commit ourselves to it," Oppermann assured the roundabout 80 participants. But Oppermann also said that cocoa farmers must receive a larger share of the proceeds from the sale of chocolate and cocoa products. Eric Gnonhoue, responsible for certification and sustainability in the cooperative, also gave the project a good report card. "PRO-PLANTEURS has given our cooperative a new boost," said Gnonhoue.