EPIE PROMISE  NGOL’EPIE,  Founder and CEO, Help Farmers Cameroon (HEFARCAM)

In the lush cocoa-producing regions of Cameroon, a quiet yet transformative movement is underway. At its helm is Epie Promise Ngol’epie, the visionary founder and CEO of Help Farmers Cameroon (HEFARCAM), an AgriTech enterprise leveraging innovation to uplift smallholder farmers and redefine the cocoa value chain. With a blend of corporate grit and heartfelt purpose, Epie’s journey—from the son of a cocoa nursery owner to a globally recognized AgriTech leader—epitomizes resilience, ingenuity, and an unyielding commitment to eradicating rural poverty. 

From Seedlings to Revolution: The Making of a Cocoa Champion

Ngol’epie’s journey into the cocoa sector was not one of chance but of deep-rooted experience and exposure. It began in the cocoa heartland where his father, a teacher-turned-farmer, managed a cocoa nursery where quality seedlings were cultivated and sold to local farmers. During school holidays, Epie and his siblings eagerly joined sharecroppers on leased cocoa farms, gaining firsthand experience in the intricate process of cocoa cultivation. 

Here, he noticed a dismal yet recurring pattern— “During holidays, we’d assist sharecroppers, but after harvests, those same farmers returned to my father for soft loans,” Epie recalls. This harsh reality of continued dependency ignited his curiosity and concern: Why did these hardworking farmers remain trapped in poverty despite their significant contributions to the cocoa value chain? This question would shape his lifelong mission: empowering smallholder farmers and creating a sustainable change that would eradicate systemic poverty in cocoa farming. 

Bridging the Gap: From Training to Transformation

After completing his university studies, Epie was selected by the Cocoa Development Fund (FODECC) as a lead facilitator for the Farmer Field School, focused on quality cocoa production in Cameroon. Over four years, he trained more than 1,000 smallholder farmers, sharing essential knowledge on improved farming techniques and disease control. However, a glaring issue persisted—despite training sessions, farmers did not implement best practices, and their financial struggles remained unchanged. As he shared, “Farmers skipped training on combating black pod disease. They sold to exploitative middlemen, trapped in the same poverty.” The reason he perceived this was that knowledge alone was insufficient. Farmers needed continuous access to training, real-time expert support, and direct market connections to escape the exploitative cycle dictated by the middlemen. 

This realization led to the birth of HEFARCAM, in 2017- a platform designed to provide accessible, on-demand training and support. “The birth of Help Farmers Cameroon, where I thought the farmers can access the training anytime, anywhere,” he says, encapsulating the core mission of his enterprise.

From Frustration to Innovation: Building a Digital Lifeline for Farmers

Since its inception, HEFARCAM has trained over 4,500 smallholder farmers across 40 cooperatives, doubling their cocoa yields from 6,000 to 12,000 tons of premium cocoa on the same land. HEFARCAM, ranked as the first AgriTech initiative in cocoa production, now operates as a one-stop shop for premium cocoa production, ensuring that farmers are not only trained but also equipped with the resources and market access needed to thrive.

By leveraging the cutting-edge mobile technology, HEFARCAM’s digital platform allows farmers to consult with experts from their farms, receive real-time guidance, and gain financial literacy through centralized payment systems. By consolidating cocoa sales, farmers achieve better bargaining power and higher prices for their produce. In addition, group farming models have reduced labor costs while enhancing efficiency and collaboration.

“Our platform lets farmers troubleshoot issues from their fields, access financial literacy modules, and collaborate with cooperatives,” Ngol’epie confirms, highlighting the company’s extensive reach. 

Despite these strides, securing direct international buyers remains the biggest challenge. Selling premium cocoa to confectionery companies and chocolate manufacturers is the final link needed to solidify HEFARCAM’s transformative impact.

Trials by Fire: Sacrifice, Skepticism, and Unshakable Resolve

Building Cameroon’s first AgricTech company in the cocoa sector was far from easy. The traditional cocoa supply chain had long been controlled by middlemen who reaped profit from farmers’ lack of knowledge and dependency on them. HEFARCAM’s disruptive model—directly linking farmers to international buyers—made Epie a threat to the status quo. Friends distanced themselves, industry players viewed him as an adversary, and even the government was skeptical of his ambitions.

Adversities ran amok, and Epie was forced to bet his last penny to fund his company for the long three years. “I emptied every savings I had made, and only my wife and immediate brothers would come to rescue me sometimes even for office bills,” he admits, recounting the initial years of struggle. At one point, he had to move the office into a warehouse due to financial constraints. Nights were spent contemplating whether to abandon his vision, yet every morning, a renewed determination drove him back to the field— “the farmers’ cries kept me going,” Epie recalls.

Epie’s perseverance bore fruit. HEFARCAM’s impact grew, and recognition followed. Finally, his breakthrough came in 2020 when Epie was selected by the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, where he received further training and built valuable connections. Later, his contributions to revolutionizing the cocoa sector in Cameroon were acknowledged by The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These milestones affirmed that his vision was not just ambitious but essential.

A Vision Beyond Borders: Smart Farming and Sustainable Growth

Epie’s aspirations for HEFARCAM extend far beyond Cameroon. Over the next five years, he envisions expanding operations to Nigeria and Ghana, positioning HEFARCAM as a leader in West African cocoa production. By employing modern agricultural techniques such as smart drip irrigation and artificial pollination, he aims to elevate Cameroon to the global forefront of premium cocoa production.

In addition to increasing yield and quality, Epie is focused on valorizing post-harvest waste: converting cocoa pulp into juice and exploring semi-processed products like cocoa butter. This approach will create new revenue streams for farmers and reduce waste in the supply chain. Looking ahead, HEFARCAM also plans to venture into semi-finished and finished product manufacturing of cocoa, bringing more value to local producers and enhancing the global competitiveness of Cameroonian cocoa.

However, these ambitious goals cannot be achieved without investment and partnerships. HEFARCAM seeks strategic alliances with impact investors, agribusiness leaders, and technology innovators who share a vision of empowering smallholder farmers and pioneering innovations in the traditional cocoa industry of Africa.

“Cameroon can lead global premium cocoa production,” Epie asserts. But scaling requires partnerships. “Direct deals with confectioneries will secure stable prices, fund tech upgrades, and empower farmers as entrepreneurs,” he confirms.

A Call from the Farmers’ CEO: Join the Cocoa Renaissance

For Epie, HEFARCAM’s journey is a blueprint for inclusive growth. “We’ve done the hard work—now we need markets,” he urges. Investors and chocolate makers partnering with HEFARCAM gain more than premium beans; they invest in an ecosystem where technology, sustainability, and equity converge.

His message to fellow innovators? “Be resilient, focused, and always be ready to learn.” For Epie, every setback is a lesson, and real change starts when you convert those setbacks into opportunities and lift yourself and others along the journey.  

With HEFARCAM paving the way for a more equitable cocoa value chain, he is not only changing the future of cocoa farming in Cameroon but also setting a precedent for sustainable agribusiness models across Africa.

Epie Promise Ngol’epie isn’t just transforming cocoa; he is redefining his legacy. From the warehouses of Kumba to the FAO’s radar, his story resonates with every farmer who now dreams bigger. In his words: “We’re not just growing cocoa. We’re cultivating dignity.” For global leaders seeking purpose-driven partnerships, Epie’s HEFARCAM stands as proof that the future of agriculture is both high-tech and deeply human.