Hershey Learn to Grow Program Expands to Nigeria

HERSHEY, Pa.The Hershey Company announced its Hershey Learn to Grow program, which was originated in Ghana in 2012, will be expanded in Nigeria to provide 20,000 cocoa farmers with advanced training in order to improve the quality of their cocoa, while doubling productivity and increasing farmer income by 30%.

The Hershey Learn to Grow program will be expanded in Nigeria through a public and private partnership with IDH (The Sustainable Trade Initiative) and Source Trust. Hershey Learn to Grow Nigeria also will focus on business and finance training for farmers so they are able to access credit to improve their farms.

Hershey is committed to using 100% certified cocoa in its products worldwide by 2020. Hersheys percentage of certified cocoa will surpass 10% this year and increase to between 40% and 50% by 2016.

Hershey Learn to Grow Nigeria will employ computerized tracking of cocoa through the entire supply chain. This will provide farmers with precise information about the size of their farms, age of cocoa trees and ability to use fertilizers to increase production. Hershey Learn to Grow Nigeria will also place an emphasis on improving cocoa communities through water and power provision, malaria prevention and education programs.

Hershey Learn to Grow Ghana is helping more than 1,000 farm families and 5,000 cocoa community members improve their livelihoods by learning the latest in modern farming techniques and agricultural stewardship, including appropriate and inappropriate uses of labor.

Hershey Learn to Grow Nigeria is part of a broad range of programs and initiatives that comprise Hersheys 21st Century Cocoa Sustainability Plan, which is the companys roadmap helping cocoa communities around the world grow sustainable cocoa for the next century.