TRADE Hub produced multi-award-winning documentary “A Smallholder’s Voice” to amplify the voices of cocoa and oil palm smallholder farmers in Mbangassina, Cameroon.
The 18-minute film, shot in March 2022, is a call to action to critically assess public and private policies on commodity production and trade, including deforestation-free supply chain regulation. Thisensures that smallholders are consulted and engaged in formulation and implementation of sustainability initiatives. Another strong message is the need to ensure that farmers get fair economic returns for their produce, without which a sustainable transitions will not be possible.
The documentary gained international attention. It won awards in four different film festivals with audience members citing their shock and renewed desire to buy sustainably sourced cocoa and palm oil products. The film was also featured at the 2022 World Trade Organization Public Forum. It brought smallholder challenges to the direct attention of stakeholders across a range of governments, international governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
Since then, our researchers have returned to Mbangassina to visit the farmers and hear updates. Farmers said: “This film encourages us. We want cocoa producers to have a louder voice, and consumers to realise the difficulties in cocoa production and the low pay”. Now that they have the world’s attention, they emphasised: “We are happy the film gave us a voice. But we also need capital! Investment”.
Our Films: Uplifting the Voices of Smallholders
Following the success of our award-winning debut film, we developed a second documentary in Brazil: Coexistence: Nature, Production & Trade in the Brazilian Cerrado". This film offered a captivating glimpse into the lives of smallholders and larger soy producers navigating the complexities of the Brazilian Cerrado. This unique region, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, is at a crossroads. It is balancing agricultural expansion with environmental conservation.
The documentary sheds light on the challenges faced by local communities that are striving to sustain their livelihoods while preserving the Cerrado's ecological integrity.