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Tag: Cocoa farmers

  • Cocoa farmers remain in poverty despite record-high prices, report says

    Cocoa farmers remain in poverty despite record-high prices, report says

    Despite record-high cocoa prices, millions of smallholder farmers across West Africa remain trapped in poverty, according to findings from the Cocoa Barometer 2025, released on Wednesday.

    The biennial report paints a complex picture of the global cocoa industry, describing a sector simultaneously facing “bad, better, and with a lot of room for improvement.”

    Produced by a consortium of civil society organisations, the report revealed that while Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which account for over 60 percent of global cocoa production, continue to shape market prices, and Nigeria emerged as a rising producer projected to deliver 350,000 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, the benefits of soaring prices have not reached most farmers.

    “Farmer poverty is at the root of virtually all problems in the cocoa sector, from deforestation to child labour and gender inequality,” the report states.

    “Paying farmers fairly is both a moral and legal obligation, thanks to new human rights and environmental legislation. But political resistance in Europe is threatening the hard-won progress in regulation.”

    The report noted that forward-selling mechanisms have delayed the impact of price increases for farmers, even as yields fall due to aging trees, crop diseases, and erratic rainfall linked to climate change.

    According to the report, the situation is compounded by weak governance and a lack of supply management, which leaves producers exposed to market swings.

    The Cocoa Barometer 2025 further warned that high prices are driving new waves of deforestation as farmers expand into untouched forests to maximise profits, a trend that could trigger oversupply and another price crash similar to 2016.

    In addition, the report highlighted ongoing human rights abuses, with 1.5 million children still working in hazardous cocoa farming conditions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, and women who perform the majority of farm labour largely excluded from profit-sharing and decision-making.

    Farm workers and tenant farmers, it added, remain consistently overlooked despite being central to cocoa cultivation.

    It, however, attributed much of the sector’s fragility to weak governance and policy gaps.

    It stressed that the absence of transparent farmgate pricing systems and limited accountability mechanisms continues to undermine progress.

    Despite these challenges, the report stated that change is possible.

    It calls for collective action by governments, companies, farmers, and civil society to achieve systemic reform through fair pay and commitment to a living income for farmers.

    Others are environmental protection through a global moratorium on deforestation linked to cocoa. Inclusive governance, which will ensure both men and women farmers are co-decision makers.

    The Cocoa Barometer concludes that while new regulations and collaborative initiatives show that progress is achievable, the window for meaningful reform is closing fast.

    Without decisive action, it warned that the cocoa industry risks repeating its historical cycle of exploitation, inequality, and environmental degradation

  • Cocoa farmers resilient against global price decline

    Cocoa farmers resilient against global price decline

    Nigerian cocoa exporters are currently facing significant challenges as global cocoa prices have experienced a slight decline in recent weeks. The current market price for cocoa stands at $5,388.00 per tonne. This pricing is primarily influenced by commodity futures markets in New York and London, which are driven by the dynamics of supply and demand. Last year, following poor harvests in Ghana and Ivory Coast, cocoa prices reached $4,200 per metric tonne by December, a level not seen since the 1970s. In March, cocoa prices soared to $10,000 (9,235) Euros per metric tonne, surpassing the cost of copper, and in April, it peaked at $12,000 per tonne. Presently, cocoa prices have reverted to approximately $5,000 per tonne. For most of the past decade, until March of this year, cocoa prices remained around $2,500 per metric tonne.

    In an interview with The Nation, Sayina Riman, a former National President of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), noted that while global cocoa prices have decreased, local farmers have not been significantly affected, as they continue to sell their produce to exporters in naira.

    He emphasised that the local pricing system  provides a form of hedge that has not affected many cocoa farmers like the exporters. According to him, local farmers sell their beans at the Naira rate to exporters, who subsequently trade them on the global market.

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    The pricing of cocoa is primarily determined by commodity futures markets in New York and London, influenced by supply and demand. However, the sale of cocoa beans varies by country, with differing standards and trading systems across Africa.

    The Director -General , African Centre for Supply Chain, Dr. Obiora Madu, expressed that cocoa prices will continue to fluctuate, as the market is largely controlled by chocolate manufacturers who depend on processors to convert beans into butter and liquor for chocolate production.

    The price for cocoa is chiefly determined at commodity futures markets in New York and London, which are largely driven by supply and demand.

    However, the way cocoa beans are sold is based on different standards in each country, with cocoa trading systems across Africa often varying greatly in their structures.

    According to  him,  Nigeria is  hugely affected because only a few of the exporters sell processed cocoa. He explained that the majority of the exporters sell  raw  beans  rather than  cocoa  butter  and  liquor to global chocolate companies.

    Chairman,Board of Trustees,Cocoa Association of Nigeria(CAN), Dr Victor Iyama explained  that cocoa prices have historically experienced fluctuations that not only influence global markets but also have a direct effect on consumers around the world.

    He emphasised that as a fundamental component in numerous products, variations in cocoa prices impact everything from production expenses to retail pricing.

    In the first quarter of this year, cocoa prices underwent considerable volatility due to crop yields being adversely affected by drought conditions in West Africa. The prices were particularly influenced by climatic factors in Ivory Coast and Ghana. However, by mid-2024, improvements in weather conditions provided some relief, leading to a stabilisation in production and a modest decrease in prices.

    Despite this decline in cocoa prices, consumers continue to encounter high costs for products such as chocolate.

    He pointed out that the repercussions of cocoa price increases from the first and second quarters of the year are only now becoming evident in retail pricing. Manufacturers typically transfer these earlier cost increases to consumers with a time lag, which explains why chocolate prices remain high even after the recent reduction in cocoa prices.

    In September, international Agri Finance   Group, Rabobank warned that  skyrocketing cocoa prices were putting pressure on chocolate producers worldwide, with consumers likely to bear the brunt in the coming months

    In the report ,Soaring Cocoa prices: The worst is yet to come, Rabobank  noted that  there was a “cocoa crisis”.

    The  group highlighted how cocoa commodity prices have reached their highest level in nearly 50 years.

    “Significantly-higher chocolate prices will likely hit shelves over the coming months and going into 2025, providing a major challenge for the chocolate sector, which is already battling a longer-term, structural decline in demand,” the report said.

    Research analyst for Rabobank, Paul Joules, said the surge is driven by a poor harvest in West Africa, which supplies 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa.

    “Cocoa futures peaked at nearly $12,000 per metric tonne early last year,” he explained. “The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) reported a 14.2 per cent drop in global production for the 2023/24 season, resulting in a shortage of 462,000 metric tonnes – the lowest cocoa stocks in 22 years.”

    Despite recent price increases, Joules said the cocoa crisis has yet to impact supermarket shelves, but the steep price increase is anticipated to be felt later this year and into next.

    “This would inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers, particularly dark chocolates with higher cocoa content,” he added.

    To manage rising costs, chocolate manufacturers resort to strategies such as shrinkflation (reducing package sizes while maintaining prices) and ‘skimpflation’ (using less cocoa and more fillers).

    “These tactics are often unpopular with consumers but necessary given the circumstances,” said Joules.

    To combat rising costs, Joules said chocolate manufacturers internationally were adopting various strategies.

    “These include ‘shrinkflation’, which is reducing package sizes while maintaining prices, and ‘skimpflation’, which is altering recipes to use less cocoa and more fillers,” he said.

  • Cocoa farmers, thugs clash in Cross River

    Cocoa farmers, thugs clash in Cross River

    No fewer than six farm workers were injured when thugs clashed around the Government Cocoa Estate in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Narrating his ordeal on his hospital bed at Ikom  General Hospital, a victim, Mr. Kelly Abang, said: “I went to work at Mr  Mark Prince’s Cocoa Farm and one man, who identified himself as Chilo, asked us about the owner of the farm and we told him we are working for Mark Prince.

    “He demanded that I should call our boss, because he wanted to speak with him. And I responded to his demand and I put a call across to him.Thereafter, Mr. Chilo (Asu Njor) asked us to continue with our work and he left in the company of the boys. Only for him to return about 30 minutes later with some armed young men who tortured and inflicted injuries on us with machetes.”

    Prince blamed the Special Adviser to the State Government on Security  Matters,  Maj.-Gen Okoi Obono(rtd), of compromising the security situation at the l32-hectare Abonita Cocoa Estate, where he shared a boundary with the Government Cocoa Estate, calling for investigation into the matter and sanction given to culprits.

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    He added: “Thugs are parading with arms in the cocoa farm. If this is not checked, I foresee an outbreak of lawlessness at the Abonita axis between Agborkim and Ajassor neighbouring communities in the near future. Persistent attacks can cause war between the two sister communities, because there is no way you can machete people like this and we mobilise for revenge, so that it won’t result in a communal war.

    “I am calling on Governor Bassey Otu to ask his State Security Adviser,  Maj.-Gen Okoi Obono (rtd), to explain to him why he stopped soldiers from patrolling at Abonita Cocoa Estate known for criminal activities.”

    The farmer said: “We have instances where a criminal is reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Effraya, Etung Local Government of the state, and the matter will be transferred to Zone 6 Police Command, Calabar, or Abuja. Before you know it, the victims suddenly turn to suspects.’’

    But, Njor (Chilo) and Gen. Obono denied their involvement in the matter, stressing that he had asked the  police to commence an immediate investigation into the crisis.

  • Cocoa farmers clash in Cross River

    Cocoa farmers clash in Cross River

    Rival cocoa farmers and thugs have clashed, leaving some injured and others hospitalised around the government Cocoa estate in Etung local government area of Cross River.

    The Nation reports some of the farmers alleged a compromise in the armed security patrol team in the area, blaming the situation on the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the State Government, Maj.Gen Rtd. Okoi Obono, who has offered explanations on the crisis.

    One of the victims, a small holder Cocoa farmer at Abonita Cocoa farm, Mr. Mark Prince, called on the State Director Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Roseline Izuagbe, to Investigate the attack on his six workers by thugs and inflicted various degree of injuries on his workers in the area since October 2, 2024.

    Prince stated the injured workers are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in  Ikom, Cross River State. The cause of the clash was yet unknown as of the time of filing this report.

    He blamed the Special Adviser to the State Government on Security  Matters, Rtd. Major General Okoi Obono,  of compromising the security situation at the l32 hectares Abonita cocoa estate which shares a boundary with  government Cocoa estate in the area, calling for an investigation into the matter.

    One of the victims Mr. Kelly Abang said: “I went to do work at Mr  Mark Prince’s  cocoa farm yesterday and one  man, identified as Chilo met us in the bush and asked us about the owner of the farm and we  told him we are laborers working for Mark Prince.

    Read Also: Cocoa farmers, firm, settle differences in Ondo

    “He demanded that I should call our Boss, Mr. Mark Prince, because he wants to speak with him. And I responded to his demand and I put a call across to Mark Prince and they spoke with each other. And thereafter, Mr. Chilo  ( ASU Njor) asked us to continue with our work and he left in the company of the boys. Only for him to return back about 30 minutes later in the company of some  armed young men who tortured us squarely  and inflicted numerous injuries on us with machetes.”

    But the accused, Mr. Asu Njor (Chilo), denied any involvement in the attack. 

    Reacting, Obono denied the alleged compromise of the security details at the estate, stressing that he had asked the police to commence an immediate investigation into the crisis.

  • Monarch seeks empowerment of cocoa farmers

    The Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Dokun Thompson, has made a strong case for the economic empowerment of farmers in the cocoa industry.

    Speaking during a forum of food and agric writers in Lagos, the Monarch said cocoa was a key export commodity central to the realisation of the Federal Government’s targets towards sustainable development.

    He said improving the lives of stakeholders working in cocoa production ultimately will have a positive impact on the industry.

    He said cocoa farmers lacked access to financial capital, land and labour, apart from not getting insurance for their farms, which at times suffered from droughts or bush fire.

    Recent flooding on cocoa plantations, according to him, killed off flowers and small pods, and prevented farmers from working on their farms.

    He explained that heavy rains that poured on the farms made streams to overflow and flowers and pods in their early stages of growth got destroyed.

    He said: “The flood is affecting everybody, particularly this year; even in Eti-Oni, it affected farms. We are in the rain forest so, definitely heavy rain will always affect us.”

    He urged financial institutions to tailor their products and services to meet the particular needs of farmers, stressing the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to upscale the sharing of proven best practices in sustainable cocoa production among smallholder rice farmers.

    On Eti-Oni, Oba Thompson, said  was home to Nigeria’s oldest Cocoa plantation and the birthplace of the crop in the Southwest. “The Cocoa crop was introduced into Eti-Oni in 1896 by Gureje-Thompson and it was from here that Cocoa spread to neighbouring towns and other parts of the region where it later became the economic mainstay of Western Nigeria.

    He also announced that this year’s Eti-Oni cocoa festival is scheduled for between December 2 and 9 at Gureje Square, Eti-Oni, Osun State.

    The cocoa festival, according to him, is an initiative of the Eti-Oni Development Group with an objective to create a renaissance in the industry and build bridges between production and consumption to achieve sustainability. The other goal, he said, is to transform the rural community of Eti-Oni into a sustainable model smart town in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN 2030 SDGs) through cocoa trade.

    The cocoa festival, he explained, will attract local and international exhibitors, who will showcase primary and secondary products. It will also feature awards. The awards will be given to individuals, corporate organisations or government agencies or programmes in recognition of outstanding contribution to cocoa development.

    The award categories  will include:    value chain development – policy formulation and execution;    cocoa sustainability advocacy;    environmentally friendly practices;    development of women in cocoa;    commercial bank and cocoa promotion;   cocoa renaissance in Nigeria;  life-time personal contribution to cocoa development in Nigeria; social impact initiatives -(individual or corporate organisation), ingenious research development in cocoa; creative farmers training model; innovative agriculture development programme; TV broadcast coverage on cocoa; news print/online coverage on cocoa; ICT company and cocoa development and sustainable tourism.

     

     

     

     

  • Group seeks support for cocoa farmers

    Cocoa farmers require more support to apply global best practices in their operations, the Project Manager of the Olakoko Sustainability Project, Mrs. Mopelola Fabunmi, has said.

    Mrs Fabunmi spoke during the commemoration of Farmers’ Day at Igbara-Oke, near Akure, the Ondo State capital, where 2,851 farmers from Edo, Osun, Ogun, and Ondo states participated.

    The project manager said Nigeria is in a pole position to increase its yield of cocoa and ensure improved quality of the produce as well as improve the quality of lives of farmers.

    She recalled that in over two years of its operation, the Olakoko Project had trained more than 8,000 farmers from Edo, Ogun, Osun and Ondo states.

    Mrs Fabunmi said: “We do not relent in our efforts at ensuring that farmers are thoroughly trained on farm practices and passing necessary information required to improve agricultural yields.”

    Highlights of the Farmers’ Day included the Farmers’ Market, which provided an avenue for farmers to get farm inputs for cocoa and other crops as a means of diversification.

  • Group seeks support for cocoa farmers

    Cocoa farmers require more support to apply global best practices in their operations, the Project Manager of the Olakoko Sustainability Project, Mrs. Mopelola Fabunmi, has said.

    Mrs Fabunmi spoke during the commemoration of Farmers’ Day at Igbara-Oke, near Akure, the Ondo State capital, where 2,851 farmers from Edo, Osun, Ogun, and Ondo states participated.

    The project manager said Nigeria is in a pole position to increase its yield of cocoa and ensure improved quality of the produce as well as improve the quality of lives of farmers.

    She recalled that in over two years of its operation, the Olakoko Project had trained more than 8,000 farmers from Edo, Ogun, Osun and Ondo states.

    Mrs Fabunmi said: “We do not relent in our efforts at ensuring that farmers are thoroughly trained on farm practices and passing necessary information required to improve agricultural yields.”

    Highlights of the Farmers’ Day included the Farmers’ Market, which provided an avenue for farmers to get farm inputs for cocoa and other crops as a means of diversification.

    Mrs Fabunmi said: “One of the aims of the project is to ensure that farmers take good care of their farms (fruits and soil) to get good quality cocoa beans there. We do this by linking them to sources of good inputs, such as fungicide, insecticide, herbicides and others, which are approved by authorised bodies such as CRIN.

    “We also encourage diversification of other crops during the cocoa off-season. Thus, the essence of the Farmers’ Market is that farmers can have closer interaction with the input and agro dealers and they in turn sell to them at subsidized price.”

     

  • Stakeholders seek support for cocoa farmers

    THE government has been urged to support the  Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) to enable its members  respond to the growing food insecurity in the country.

    CAN’s spokesman, Mr.  Robo Adhuze, said the government should distribute  more seedlings to cocoa farmers to boost their production. He said his colleagues needed farming input, such as seedlings, shade trees, ammonia and plantain suckers.

    He said there was the need for the distribution of the seedlings to replace old cocoa trees because of their declining yields.

    Adhuze, who is also Chief  Executive, Centre for Cocoa Initiative, canvassed the  need  to train farmers on how to improve their yield.

    He also urged the government to target  using  agriculture to transform the rural areas, adding that this would help create a diversified, better integrated and modern rural economy.

    The Team Leader, Cocoa Value Chain, Dr. Peter Aikpokpodion, noted that cocoa produce from Nigeria are of high premium at the international market and have the potential to build a virile economy.

     

  • Buyers partner cocoa farmers on quality, output

    International organisations are assisting the nation’s cocoa farmers to increase production to 500,000 tonnes per annum in the next five years. They also want farmers to key into certification schemes to improve the country’s foreign exchange forex earnings by capitalising on her reputation as one of the producers of fine, or flavoured cocoa.

    The organisations, which include, United States based Hershey Company, German International Co-operation (GIZ), IDH (The Sustainable Trade Initiative) Oxfam Novib, Continaf, Ferrero, Petra Foods Limited and Farmers’ Development Union (FADU) are also training farmers to meet the certification standards.

    Hershey said it plans to start using certified cocoa from Nigeria, which is produced according to certain social, economic and environmental standards, adding that independent auditors will verify the certified cocoa is produced by the highest labour, and in accordance with environmental and good farming practices. It said that it hopes to double the output from its cocoa suppliers in Nigeria as it extends its Learn to Grow programme in the country.

    The Country Programme Manager, Solidaridad, Mr Alex Akinbo, said international processors of cocoa and manufacturers of cocoa products are concerned about falling quality and yields. This has led to introduction of certification of cocoa produce. He said certification was constituting a barrier to cocoa export, as a result, his organisation is working to enable local farmers meet the requirement.

    The Programme Coordinator, Farmers’ Development Union (FADU), Mr Victor Olowe, said his organisation has been working with a number of companies to meet the challenge of the export market through the Cocoa Productivity and Quality Programme, explaining that the Cocoa Productivity and Quality Programme is a public private partnership between Farmers’ Development Union (FADU), IDH, Oxfam Novib, Continaf, Ferrero and Petra Foods Limited.

    He said the aim is to create the foundation for a modern, viable cocoa industry that will flourish and attract new investors, enhance rural livelihoods and encourage self-employment, and maximise the country’s opportunity to receive a premium price for the product in the world market, adding that a lot of farmers are participating in the programme in Ile Ife, Osun State.

    Olowe said: “The project came up as a result of poor handling of cocoa production in Nigeria which used to be the leading producer of cocoa in the world but now takes the fourth position. Whereas Cote d’Voire produced 1.5 metric tonnes and Ghana produced 800 metric tonnes in 2011, Nigeria produced less than 250,000 metric tonnes. This development, he added, informed the reason the organisations are coming together to encourage cocoa farmers to produce good quality beans.

    He said a total of 1788 farmers were mobilised, registered and trained in 2012, and that 2000 were targeted for this year. With this, he said it would be easy to achieve the 7500 farmers targeted at the end of the project in 2015, he said. In addition, he said the project targets a minimum of 30 percent women participation.

    The Project Manager of the Cocoa Productivity and Quality Programme (CPQP), Fabunmi Mopelola, said the Kokodola project was established to create a sustainable and efficient value chain for certified cocoa to improve the lives of cocoa farmers in Osun and Ondo states.

    She said it started in seven local government areas in Osun State. These include Ayedaade, Isokan, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Ife East, Ife North and Irewole. This year, she said the project has expanded to Ife South, Ori-Ade, Obokun and Ifedore in Ondo State. She said the project has deliver on its promise on giving out premium at the end of this season.

  • Commissioner tells cocoa farmers to leave Ogun forests alone

    Commissioner tells cocoa farmers to leave Ogun forests alone

    Cocoa farmers in Ogun State have been warned to desist from the destruction of forest trees in government reserves for the planting or replacement of cocoa plantations.

    The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, gave the warning during the official roll-out of the Growth Enhancement Support (G.E.S) programme held at the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (C.A.N) secretariat at Atake-Obo, Ogbere Junction in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

    Represented by the Permane

    nt Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Lanre Bisiriyu, Mrs. Sokefun said that while government is committed to the development of cocoa and livelihood of stakeholders along its value chain, it would not condone wanton destruction of forest trees which are vital for environmental protection and revenue generation for the state.

    Speaking on the G.E.S programme, the commissioner disclosed that only farmers registered under the Farmers’ National Data Base registration exercise where entitled to herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers provided by government at a subsidized rate of 50 per cent.

    “Under the GES programme for 2013, a farmer is entitled to 100 sachets of any fungicide of his/her choice out of (Champ DP, Fungiran, Ridomil Gold or Ultimax Plus), two bags of cocoa fertiliser (Teractive) and 25 sachets of insecticides.

    “Only farmers who register under the Farmers’ National Date Base will, however, benefit from the programme. Those who have not registered should please contact his or her local government areas, wards, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), Tree Crops Department and Produce Department of the Ministry of Agriculture,” she said.

    The commissioner added that cocoa farmers who were registered during the 2012 exercise received 200 sachets of fungicides, five bags of NPK 20:10:10 fertilisers and 5kg of Agrolyser and 50 sachets of insecticides at a subsidized rate of 50 per cent.

    This, according to her, had enhanced the production of cocoa, which, in effect, resulted in an increase in revenue generation to government and income improvement to all stakeholders along the value chain.

    In his address, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, revealed that the 129,620 farmers registered during the registration exercise for 2013 was a far cry from the number of farmers in the state.

    Dr. Adesina, represented by the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinsola, called on farmers yet to register to do same and take advantage of the interventions of both the federal and state governments in the agricultural sector.

    The minister, who further said that, under the 2013 exercise, 3,137 farmers in the state would benefit for cocoa, even as he advised them to use best practices in the application of their inputs for bumper harvest of their crops in line with world standards.

    In his address, the State G.E.S Coordinator, Mr. Ibikunle Onasanya, said that government was committed to creating enabling environment for the development of agriculture as the state had climate and vegetation favourable for the cultivation of both cash and food crops.

    Mr. Onasanya added that for agriculture to be developed, it should serve as a source of gainful employment, raw materials to industries, foreign exchange earner and also create wealth along the value chain, among others.

    In his goodwill message, the chairman, Cocoa Framers’ Association of Nigeria (C.A.N), Mr. Olusesan Sowunmi, assured government that farmers would embrace best practices in their farming practice.

    While warning farmers to desist from destruction of economic trees in the forest reserve, Mr. Sowunmi appealed to government to provide land for the establishment of new cocoa plantations outside the reserve and provision of access roads to cocoa producing communities in the state.