Brazil has launched a technical training program for young people from the PALOP countries in the cashew and cocoa production chains. The initiative, coordinated by the Brazil-Africa Institute, involves 50 Angolans and 50 Guineans in intensive training. The activities will take place in April and May in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Ceará. The project aims to strengthen the African agricultural economy through specialized knowledge.

Angola and Guinea-Bissau are the first African countries to benefit from the Youth Technical Training Program (YTTP), a triangular partnership between Brazil, the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), and the United Arab Emirates. Angolan youth will focus on cocoa, with training in Ilhéus and Itabuna, Bahia, from April 07th to 18th. Guinea-Bissau students will learn modern cashew processing techniques in Ceará, from May 05th to 16th.

João Bosco Monte, president of the Brazil-Africa Institute, highlighted the strategic importance of the selected sectors. For Angola, cocoa emerges as an alternative to oil dependence, while Guinea-Bissau seeks to add value to cashew, which accounts for 90% of its exports.

Both countries face these challenges with traditional methods and low mechanization, factors that limit global competitiveness.

The program aligns with Angolan government policies for economic diversification, promoting sustainable agriculture. In Guinea-Bissau, the goal is to modernize the production chain, reducing the export of raw materials. By 2026, the institute plans to train 1.000 young Africans, with Mozambique, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe on the list of future participants.

Cocoa: Roots and Future

The history of cocoa in Angola dates back to the colonial period, when the country was one of the world's largest coffee exporters. Today, however, Angola imports 80% of its chocolate, a paradox for a territory with a tropical climate ideal for cultivation. Mota-Engil's project in Cabinda, launched in 2022, aims to reverse this situation by planting 6.000 hectares of cocoa by 2030.

The company uses genetically improved clones developed in partnership with Brazilian and São Tomé experts. At the Chiela Clonal Development Center in Cabinda, the seedlings are grafted with high-yield genetic material.

“Each plant can yield three harvests per year, compared to just one in the traditional system,” explained Ricardo Souza, the project’s technical director.

The goal is to produce 15.000 tons annually, destined for premium markets in Europe and Asia. The challenges, however, are enormous: only 2% of Angolan land is mechanized, according to data from former Minister of Agriculture Marcos Nhunga. The 50 young Angolans undergoing training in Brazil are learning innovative techniques, such as the use of drones to control pests and drip irrigation systems.

A special module focuses on international certification, crucial for exporting organic cocoa at prices up to 30% higher.

“We want Angola to dominate the entire chain, from cultivation to the sale of packaged chocolate,” said João Bosco Monte.

The lack of infrastructure, however, threatens the project's success. In 2019, a Swiss fund injected $300 million into the sector, but the lack of climate-controlled warehouses led to 30% losses in the 2023 harvest. Mamaland, a subsidiary of Mota-Engil, is building storage units with support from the United Arab Emirates, but progress is slow due to bureaucratic obstacles.

The Partnerships

Several strategic partnerships attempt to fill these gaps. South Africa's Trooper Group will supply agricultural machinery in exchange for export contracts. Agri All Africa, a platform that brings together 3.500 farmers, offers distribution channels for Angolan cocoa. The objective is clear: to transform Cabinda into a regional hub, competing with Ivory Coast and Ghana.

The social impact is equally significant. The Mota-Engil project expects to create 1.200 direct jobs by 2026, many for young people trained at the YTTP.

“We are teaching cooperative management techniques to ensure that profits reach the communities”

João Magalhães, head of Mamaland, explained, also confirming that, in the long term, the goal is to reduce chocolate imports, which cost the country $12 million annually.

Cashew: From Farm to Market

In Guinea-Bissau, cashew is more than a crop: it's the backbone of the economy, supporting 250 families. The country exports 90% of its production in its raw form, primarily to India, which reprocesses the nuts and sells them at prices ten times higher.

The YTTP program aims to change this equation. The 50 young Guineans undergoing training in Ceará will learn to master all stages of the production chain. In practical classes, they roast chestnuts in solar ovens, peel them with manual equipment, and vacuum-pack them.

“The key is to process locally to retain the added value,” explained João Bosco Monte.

Adapted technologies, such as sealers that operate without electricity, will be replicated in rural areas of Guinea-Bissau. Energy, on the other hand, is a critical obstacle. Only 8% of rural areas have stable access to electricity, according to the World Bank. As a solution, Brazilian trainers are teaching the use of cashew shell biomass to fuel ovens.

“Each ton of bark generates energy equivalent to 200 liters of diesel,” calculated André Botha, from Agri All Africa.

Foreign investment is also trying to accelerate change. South Africa's Trooper Group has committed to investing $525 million in cold chains and warehouses by 2025. The FAO supports post-harvest reforestation programs, combating desertification caused by intensive farming.

The results are beginning to emerge. In 2023, a cooperative in Bissau processed 10 tons of roasted cashews, sold at $15/kg to Europe. Profit per family increased from $200 to $500/year.

The goal is to process 50% of production by 2027, reducing dependence on foreign intermediaries. The training even includes digital marketing lessons. Participants learn how to use platforms like NutsAfrica to sell directly to buyers around the world.

Conclusion

The YTTP represents a turning point in international cooperation, prioritizing training on welfare. Angola and Guinea-Bissau are already testing a model that combines Brazilian expertise, Arab financing, and African resources.

Challenges persist: potholed roads in Cabinda and power outages in Guinea-Bissau show that technical training only flourishes with solid infrastructure. Brazil is doing its part, but ultimate success depends on local reforms.

The next phase includes Mozambique and Cape Verde, where the focus will be coffee and coconut. The dream is clear: to transform the PALOP countries into agricultural powerhouses, not just suppliers of raw materials.