The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa has raised fresh concerns over the persistent instability in global cocoa prices, warning that market volatility remains one of the greatest threats to the sustainable growth and long-term survival of Africa’s cocoa industry.
The organisation said frequent fluctuations in cocoa prices continue to negatively affect millions of farmers across the continent, weaken investor confidence and slow development throughout the agricultural value chain.
Speaking ahead of the Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta Lagos, Nigeria 2026, scheduled to hold on October 7 and 8, the Global President of COCEFAAA, Adeola Adegoke, said African cocoa farmers have remained resilient despite enduring years of unstable market conditions and declining profitability.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adegoke lamented that although Africa remains the world’s largest cocoa-producing region, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of global cocoa output, many farmers still struggle to earn sustainable incomes from their labour.
According to him, the imbalance between Africa’s massive contribution to global cocoa production and the poor economic realities faced by farmers has become a growing concern that must be urgently addressed through coordinated policies, investment and market reforms.
“Market volatility remains a major threat to cocoa development across Africa. The constant fluctuations in prices have created uncertainty for farmers, discouraged investment and affected the long-term sustainability of the sector,” he stated.
He explained that unpredictable price swings often make it difficult for farmers to plan ahead, expand production or invest in improved farming techniques and infrastructure. Adegoke noted that many cocoa farmers across Africa continue to battle rising production costs, climate-related challenges, ageing plantations and limited access to financing, while also facing unstable international commodity prices.
He warned that unless urgent steps are taken to stabilise the cocoa market and strengthen support systems for farmers, Africa’s cocoa sector could experience declining productivity and reduced participation from younger generations. According to him, younger people are becoming increasingly reluctant to venture into cocoa farming because of uncertainties surrounding profitability and poor returns on investment.
The COCEFAAA president stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African governments, financial institutions, commodity regulators and private sector players to create a more stable and rewarding cocoa economy for farmers.
He also called for increased value addition within Africa, saying the continent must move beyond being merely a producer of raw cocoa beans to becoming a major processor and exporter of finished cocoa products. Adegoke argued that local processing and industrialisation would help African countries earn more foreign exchange, create jobs and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to international price shocks.
He further emphasised the importance of empowering cocoa farmers with access to technology, training, improved seedlings and modern agricultural practices capable of improving yields and sustainability.
The upcoming Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta Lagos, Nigeria 2026, he said, is expected to bring together farmers, investors, policymakers, researchers, exporters and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to discuss solutions aimed at revitalising the cocoa and coffee sectors.
The event is also expected to focus on innovation, climate resilience, sustainable production, youth participation and strategies for improving Africa’s competitiveness in the global cocoa and coffee markets.
Industry observers say the concerns raised by COCEFAAA reflect broader anxieties within Africa’s agricultural sector, where commodity-dependent economies often suffer from sharp global price movements that directly impact rural livelihoods.
Experts have repeatedly argued that despite Africa’s dominance in cocoa production, the continent earns only a fraction of the profits generated from the global chocolate and cocoa processing industry, most of which remains concentrated in Europe and other developed markets.
For many smallholder farmers, unstable prices translate into reduced household income, inability to maintain farms, poor access to healthcare and education, and increasing poverty within cocoa-producing communities.
Stakeholders have therefore continued to advocate fair pricing mechanisms, improved market access and stronger regional cooperation to protect farmers from exploitation and economic uncertainty.
As preparations intensify for the Lagos fiesta, industry leaders are expected to push for policies that prioritise farmer welfare, encourage sustainable investment and reposition Africa as not only the leading producer of cocoa but also a major beneficiary of the global cocoa economy.
