African cocoa farmers have expressed growing concern over persistent fluctuations in global cocoa prices, warning that continued market instability is threatening livelihoods, discouraging investment, and slowing development across the cocoa value chain.
The concern was raised by the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) ahead of the Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta Lagos 2026, scheduled to hold in October. The association said price volatility remains one of the biggest challenges facing cocoa farmers across the continent.
Farmers Say Uncertainty Is Hurting the Sector
According to COCEFAAA Global President, Adeola Adegoke, African cocoa farmers have shown resilience despite years of unstable market conditions.
He noted that Africa produces about 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, yet many farmers continue to struggle with unpredictable earnings due to frequent swings in global prices.
The association said the situation has created uncertainty for farmers, making it difficult to plan investments, improve productivity, or expand operations.
Industry stakeholders argue that while cocoa-producing countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria play a critical role in supplying the global market, farmers often bear the burden whenever prices rise or fall sharply.
Why Cocoa Prices Keep Fluctuating
The cocoa market has experienced significant volatility in recent years.
After reaching record highs in 2024 due to supply shortages and poor harvests, prices later declined before rising again in recent months. Analysts attribute the fluctuations to changing supply levels, weather conditions, shifting demand, investor activity, and concerns about future cocoa production.
There are also concerns that the emergence of an El Niño weather pattern could affect cocoa output in major producing regions, potentially creating further uncertainty in the market.
Call for Greater Support
COCEFAAA said stronger collaboration among governments, industry players, development partners and international buyers is needed to protect farmers from the effects of market shocks.
The group called for practical solutions that can help stabilize farmer incomes, improve market access, support sustainability efforts and strengthen the long-term future of the cocoa sector.
The association added that discussions at the upcoming Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta Lagos 2026 will focus on issues such as price volatility, sustainability, agroforestry, carbon credit opportunities, regulatory compliance and strategies for improving farmer incomes.
Looking Ahead
For many cocoa-producing communities across Africa, the challenge is no longer simply producing more cocoa.
The bigger concern is ensuring that farmers can earn stable and predictable incomes despite changing global market conditions.
As discussions continue among industry stakeholders, many farmers hope future reforms will provide greater protection against the price swings that have affected the sector for years.
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