In its early years of its creation and relocating to
Bakebe Village, Upper Banyang Sub Division, Tacofacoop-bod became the youngest and last
agricultural Cooperative Society to be a beneficiary to the cocoa bean Fermentation Boxes and
Green House Solar Drying Facility sponsored by Agriculture Infrastructure And Value Chain
Development Project (AIVDP) Buea - implemented predominantly on agricultural area. This was
the reward to a serious group of local farmers like Tacofacoop-bod, in particular, who quickly
worked collectively to acquire a permanent plot measuring 100 by 60 Square Meters and valued
at 4million Fcfa of its own within two years of operation. The are two structures of Fermentation
Boxes containing 24 boxes each and two structures of Solar Dryers, valued at 22million Fcfa.
The peripheral easement zone of the Solar Drying Facility at Bakebe Village also reserves land
for the construction of a Warehouse, an administrative block and utilities, preventing
unauthorized occupation, and ensures compliance with environmental and safety standards.
These potential future expansions reflect a long-term capacity and strategic importance Upper
Banyang Sub Division has in Cameroon’s economic agenda. The move of constructing the
cocoa bean Solar Dryer Facility at Bakebe Village by Tacofacoop-bod has been a push by its
members to accelerate development and strengthen the local cocoa farmers’quality cocoa
beans production through standard Fermentation and Drying processes. It is expected to boost
the quality of cocoa bean supply, job opportunities and the reinforcement of the national cocoa
sector, as Tacofacoop-bod works directly with its members and non-members who cultivate
cocoa and supply their produce to the Solar Drying Facility. The processed cocoa beans is then
sold directly to chocolate manufacturing industries or exported.
This initiative aimed at addressing service delivery challenges within communities also play an
important role in strengthening agricultural value chains while creating economic opportunities in
the rural communities and contributing to youth participation and women empowerment. While
these youths are actively involved in these agricultural activities, the Solar Drying Facility project
demonstrates the impact that agriculture can have in creating livelihoods while empowering
communities as they shall be benefiting by supplying their produce to the Tacofacoop-bod all
year-round business activities and farming initiatives in a large-scale. It could also
encourage similar investments in food and other processing products, helping Bakebe Village
position itself as a development hub. This Solar Drying Facility
underscores Tacofacoop-bod’s commitment to the stress the local farmers have during rainy
periods when drying their cocoa bean under the sunlight - modernization, diversification and
providing a tangible example of how it can target its strategies to expand its scope of national
contributions while supporting broader growth objectives.