The Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa has raised serious concerns that existing cocoa pricing models are failing to protect farmers across Africa.
In a statement released on Thursday, COFAAA Global President, Adeola Adegoke, said, “These systems were designed to stabilise prices in cocoa-producing countries, but in practice, prices have been quickly adjusted to match international market fluctuations.
“Instead of providing stability and protection, the current models are leaving farmers vulnerable to the volatility of the global cocoa market.”
The organisation noted that despite the historic cocoa price boom in 2024, when international prices reached about $12,000 per metric tonne, many farmers, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, did not fully benefit due to semi-regulated and fully regulated market systems.
COFAAA highlighted that the downturn in cocoa prices over the past year has affected all origin countries in Africa and has dampened the enthusiasm generated during the 2024 price surge.
Adegoke emphasized that while global chocolate consumption continues to rise, African cocoa farmers still face low incomes, child labor risks, limited access to education, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and security threats such as illegal mining—challenges that threaten the long-term sustainability of the sector.
To address these issues, COFAAA has established the Global Members Assembly and Empowerment Forum.
The forum aims to evaluate the current situation, develop a continental position on cocoa pricing, and explore ways to support farmers through inputs and safety nets.
Adegoke stressed that Africa produces 70% of the world’s cocoa, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana alone accounting for 60%, yet the continent captures less than 6% of the $147 billion global chocolate market.
Adegoke also mentioned that cocoa farmers across Africa have raised fresh concerns over the effectiveness of the Living Income Differential (LID), questioning its ability to cushion the impact of falling global cocoa prices and improve farmer livelihoods.
“It is concerned that despite the sharp downturn in cocoa prices over the past year, the impact of the Living Income Differential has not been as strong as many had hoped,” the statement read.
COFAAA further questioned the long-term sustainability of the LID, asking whether it can serve as a reliable tool across varying economic cycles or if its impact depends on specific market dynamics.
While reaffirming support for the initiative, the group called on key institutions, including the Conseil du Café-Cacao, Ghana COCOBOD, and the Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana Cocoa Initiative—to provide clarity on the current status and future direction of the LID.
According to him, such guidance, would be critical for other cocoa-producing countries in Africa considering similar income-support frameworks.
The concerns come amid a broader downturn in global cocoa prices over the past year, which has affected farmers across major producing countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, and Sierra Leone.
According to the statement, public engagement for the initiative will begin on March 21, 2026, through a virtual session designed to encourage broader participation, strengthen collaboration, and advance a more sustainable future for Africa’s cocoa industry.
Story by:
Nana Reuben
