By Andrew Nsoseka
Agroproduce Management Services (AMS) Ltd has been crowned the winner of the 2024 Excellence Award for Best Cocoa Certification and Sustainable Practice Enforcer, solidifying its reputation as a trailblazer in Cameroon’s cocoa industry. The prestigious accolade, organised by The Scoop Media Group in collaboration with the Kumba City Council, recognised AMS’s unwavering commitment to sustainable cocoa farming, farmer empowerment, and environmental conservation.
For over 14 years, AMS has been at the forefront of cocoa certification in Cameroon, working closely with over 11,000 farmers across the Southwest, Littoral, and Centre regions. The company’s rigorous certification standards and sustainable farming initiatives have not only boosted cocoa yields but also improved bean quality, ensuring farmers earn better incomes while alleviating rural poverty.
“This award means a lot to AMS because it shows that what we are doing with our farmers in the suburbs and villages has been noticed—it’s producing results. We are creating sustainable impact in local communities,” said Ewanoge Christine, AMS’s Project Communication Manager, in an interview following the win.
AMS’s holistic approach to sustainability goes beyond just farming, as it encompasses Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), environmental protection, and social development. Over the years, the company has distributed over 2.5 million free cocoa seedlings to farmers and produced 140,000 native and fruit tree seedlings to promote reforestation efforts.
To strengthen rural infrastructure, AMS has constructed Farmer Development Centres and donated boreholes to communities in need. Education and child welfare are also central to its mission, with the company awarding scholarships to children as part of its fight against child labour in cocoa farming. Over the years, AMS has made awards of scholarships to children of its farmers a core tradition every year. This has accompanied a multitude of homes and children who have received education materials and financial support to fuel their educational aspirations.
Women’s empowerment remains a key pillar of AMS’s initiatives. The company has trained over 600 women in detergent production, yam cultivation, and cassava farming, equipping them with valuable skills for food security and additional income. To support these efforts, AMS provided 128 basins of yam tuber pieces and 100,000 cassava cuttings, ensuring sustainable agricultural growth at the grassroots level.
“The farmers have been the flag bearers of AMS’ sustainability mission and vision—they carry it in their day-to-day lives, practising what we’ve trained them to do,” Christine emphasised.
Award Validates Years of Impact
This latest recognition marks AMS’s 14th prestigious award, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable cocoa production. The company was the first in Cameroon to obtain group cocoa certification in 2011, and its consistent recertification over the past 15 years speaks to its long-term commitment to ethical and eco-friendly farming.
“On behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Etake Divine Ngaaje, we proudly dedicate this award to our cocoa farmers who have been the pillar of sustainable cocoa production. Their dedication to sustainable farming practices has earned us this honour.” Christine noted.
With sights set on new cocoa-growing regions, AMS is determined to extend its sustainable farming model to more farmers.
“This recognition tells us we have more work to do. If we’re being recognised today, it means we must push further—ensuring farmers get what they truly deserve in sustainable cocoa farming,” Christine stated. “We’re targeting new regions because every cocoa farmer should practice sustainable farming—not just farming. We want to ensure no farmer is left behind.”
The award ceremony took place at CHARVIC Hotel in Kumba on August 2, 2025, where AMS was honoured alongside other change makers in Cameroon.
About AMS Ltd
A subsidiary of ECOM/Theobroma, AMS Ltd is a multi-award-winning leader in sustainable cocoa production in Cameroon. With a strong focus on certification, farmer training, and community development, the company continues to set the benchmark for ethical and high-quality cocoa exports.