Pilot testing rubber sustainability approaches in Cote d’Ivoire

Cote d’Ivoire rubber production for 2018 was expected to reach 650,000 tonnes (and 700,000 tonnes in 2019) from 300,000 producing hectares, according to the Ivorian natural rubber association APROMAC.

In Cote d’Ivoire, rubber is a crop produced mainly by smallholders and family farmers who usually live in  poverty conditions. Many production areas of the country have  weak presence of state, so every intervention and effort to support producers can have a significant impact on productivity, quality and livelihoods.

The pilot on rubber sustainability approaches will provide an overview of key sustainability issues in Cote d’Ivoire and will test how a potential sustainability standard system for the rubber industry could be implemented for small and large producers as well. The test will focus on the following questions:

• What are the key sustainability issues that should be part of the risk assessment metrics and what are their thresholds? e.g. smallholders land size

• What are relevant criteria for large producers’ especially regarding recent and future development?

• How to define a jurisdiction for a rubber supply base?

• How to best evaluate them at a jurisdiction or supply shed level, using risk based approaches?

• What type of credible public information is available for risk based approaches?

• What are the strategies needed to support small and large producers to achieve the desired outcomes?

The project will be developed in three phases: pilot design (with participation of at least one group of mall farmers and one plantation for the risk matrix), field assessment (including evaluation and reporting), and analysis of the main issues identified and their root causes.