Meet Herve, a cocoa farmer in Côte d’Ivoire whose life has taken a hopeful turn thanks to his cooperative and its partnership with Advans. With access to fertilizer, proper training and fair financial support, including a school loan for his children, Hervé has increased his production, improved his income and strengthened his family’s future. His story reflects how international microfinance institutions can help rural farmers build resilience and create positive change in their communities.

“My name is Yao Dadi Hervé, and I am a cocoa farmer. I own three hectares and produce at least a ton and a half per year. I have six children, and they all go to school: three are in secondary school, two in primary school, and one in higher education.

Before, my production was not enough. Being part of a cooperative allowed me to get fertilizer and benefit from training to learn new techniques, how to treat cocoa properly, and how to sell our products well.

Today, my production has increased. I now produce more, which allows me to better feed my family. When I was working alone, it was quite difficult for me, I couldn’t produce as much as others. It was especially difficult to pay for the children’s schooling. Here, the school year starts in September, while the harvest takes place in October. In September, we have no money to send the children to school.

Thanks to the cooperative and its partner Advans, we receive school loans that allow us to pay for our children’s schooling in September. Without Advans, we would have been forced to take a loan from the Dioulas, sometimes under very harsh conditions: if someone lends you two hundred thousand, you have to repay four hundred thousand. But with Advans, that’s not the case. Their goal is truly to help us.

With the cooperative and the partner, we are stronger: we work better, we produce better, and we can have a positive impact around us.”

Discover the story of Sondo and his cocoa cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire