Cocoa, coffee farmers demand fair pricing for African producers

Despite projections of robust growth in the global cocoa and coffee sectors, African farmers, who form the backbone of this industry, are sounding the alarm about their deteriorating economic reality. The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) highlights a persistent crisis at the production level, where farmers are bearing the brunt of extreme price volatility even as global markets reach historic valuations. This stark contrast between industry-wide success and farmer-level hardship demands urgent attention.

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However, COCEFAAA warns that this growth is not being reflected in farmer incomes. Instead, smallholder producers, who account for a significant share of Africa’s cocoa and coffee output, are increasingly exposed to unstable pricing structures that often fall below production costs.

COCEFAAA's Global President, Adeola Adegoke, points out that while the cocoa and chocolate market is expected to surge towards $246 billion by 2031 and the coffee market towards $486 billion by 2035, this expansion is not translating into improved incomes for smallholder producers. Instead, these farmers, who account for a significant share of Africa's output, are increasingly exposed to unstable pricing structures that often fall below their production costs. This precarious situation forces difficult choices, such as reducing spending on fertilizers, labor, and climate-resilient seedlings, or even withdrawing children from school and cutting back on healthcare.

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Across many farming communities, the impact is severe. Farmers report reduced ability to afford fertilisers, labour, and climate-resilient seedlings. In some areas, families are withdrawing children from school or cutting back on healthcare expenses as incomes fluctuate sharply with global commodity prices.

The association aptly describes farmers as "economic shock absorbers," absorbing losses when prices dip while reaping minimal benefits when they rise. This imbalance, compounded by the escalating challenges of climate change—which includes reduced yields and the need for relocation—undermines the sector's long-term sustainability. COCEFAAA warns that without structural reforms, the global supply chains could face instability as declining farmer incomes inevitably lead to reduced production capacity, jeopardizing the very growth forecasts the industry relies upon. The call for structural reform and investment in climate-resilient varieties is a critical plea for a more equitable and sustainable future for African agriculture.

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COCEFAAA describes farmers as “economic shock absorbers” within the global supply chain, absorbing losses when prices fall while seeing limited benefit when prices rise.