One of the world’s leading chocolate and cocoa products manufacturer, Barry Callebaut, has succeeded in subscribing 10,000 cocoa farmers on its mobile banking programme, it has announced in a statement.

The chocolate firm said a few days before Christmas, it celebrated “the 10,000th cocoa farmer to join its mobile banking programme”.

That cocoa farmer was Zallé Alimissi Salame, from the village of Tiokorodougou. He received his mobile phone and solar charger from Barry Callebaut’s local team in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer.

“This innovative financial system is based on secure mobile phone technology and offered to farmers, who are registered with Biopartenaire, Barry Callebaut’s direct farmer sourcing and services organisation in Côte d’Ivoire.

“Once farmers are equipped and signed up, payment for the delivery of cocoa beans is made directly into the farmer’s mobile account. The farmer’s financial assets are password-secured to avoid theft, a constant worry of farmers keeping cash. The mobile money can be used directly for payments at shops or public institutions, or cash may be withdrawn at cashpoints,” Barry Callebaut added.

The mobile banking programme was born from a partnership between Biopartenaire and mobile phone services provider Orange CI.

The cost of solar chargers and the withdrawal costs are financially supported through a public-private partnership programme between DEG (Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft) and Barry Callebaut.

Andres Tschannen, who initiated the programme when he was running Biopartenaire, said: “Mobile banking represents a step-change in making cocoa farming a more professional and sustainable business. It benefits ten thousand farmers and their families and underlines Barry Callebaut’s strategy to support farmer livelihoods”.

With annual sales of about CHF 6.2 billion (EUR 5.6 billion / USD 6.6 billion) in fiscal year 2014/15, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds.

The Group runs more than 50 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 9,000 people.

The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers.

The two global brands catering to the specific needs of these Gourmet customers are Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®. The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to sustainable cocoa production to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.