African Cocoa Farmers Demand Fairer Profits Amid Production

African cocoa farmers are facing persistent low profit margins despite the continent producing approximately 70% of the world's cocoa. They earn less than one dollar per day, highlighting a significant imbalance in product profit.

Adeola Adegok, the global president of the Cocoa Coffee Farmer Alliance, announced a new three-year development plan set to be unveiled on April 9, 2026, aimed at addressing challenges in the cocoa and coffee sectors. Despite Africa's dominance in cocoa production, it captures less than 10% of the global cocoa and chocolate market, while the coffee sector accounts for roughly 3% of global revenue.

Contributing factors include low processing capacity, climate challenges, pest and disease outbreaks, and strict international compliance requirements. The plan aims to transform Africa's cocoa and coffee sector by promoting sustainable production, improving yield, and strengthening local processing investments.

Countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are already taking steps to retain value by increasing local processing capabilities.