Nigeria – Amina’s Journey to Empowering Women in Cocoa Farming

Amina Yusuf, a 42-year-old cocoa farmer from Ondo State, Nigeria, has been cultivating cocoa for over two decades. Growing up in a farming family, she witnessed firsthand the struggles of small-scale farmers—low prices, lack of resources, and gender inequality in agriculture.

For years, Amina’s voice went unheard in a male-dominated industry, but that changed when she joined a Cocoa Connect-supported cooperative. Through training and mentorship programs, she gained access to fair trade markets, learned sustainable farming techniques, and became a community leader advocating for women in cocoa farming.

Today, Amina runs her own all-women farming group, ensuring fair wages and empowering other women to take control of their livelihoods. With better earnings and direct access to buyers, she has been able to send her daughters to school, breaking the cycle of poverty.

“Fair trade changed everything for me. Now, I am not just a farmer—I am a businesswoman, a leader, and a mother who can give my children a better future.” – Amina Yusuf