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The story of Prudence - thriving as a coffee farmer under the Nescafe Plan

prudence

Prudence Kouao is a role model for her family and her community. Originally from Manzanouan, Prudence was a young law student, passionate about farming and active in the Coopérative Agricole Anouanzê des Producteurs de Manzanouan (COOPAPROMAN).

In 2016, Prudence joined the Nescafé Plan, and within 5 years the regular Nestle trainings helped increase her skills in production techniques as well as agronomy. These trainings also equipped her with the leadership and management skills to perform her role as the first female Group Administrator (ADG) within her cooperative.

Beneath a reserved facade, Prudence Kouao is a highly competent leader who supervises the relay farmers and offers guidance on appropriate techniques for growing quality coffee. Read more: World Coffee Day: Boosting coffee production in Africa

Today, the distribution of hybrid coffee plants and a yearlong pruning operation that Prudence undertook with her team, has led to the rejuvenation and higher productivity of a local orchard (97 hectares pruned), with average yield of coffee farms increasing from 400kgs to 650 kg per hectare.

“The program gave me a stable income that I used to fund personal projects. I was also able to set up a small ½ hectare plantation on a plot of land of my mother’s which had been abandoned.” - Prudence Kouao

Prudence’s mother, Tanoh Antoinette, says she is very proud of her daughter and her impact on their community.

Prudence is part of a chain of personnel engaged under the Nescafé Plan in Ivory Coast, who aim to support farmer livelihood, and promote a sustainable, quality coffee.