Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) has expressed its determination to advance economic justice, amplifying the voices of cocoa farmers, and driving sustainable innovations that enhance the well-being of farmers and their communities in collaboration with our global cocoa institutions, partners and cocoa origins countries’ governments working assiduously to improve the livelihood of the cocoa farmers in Africa.
President and Global Coordinator of COFAA, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, said this while speaking at the maiden global webinar organised by COFAAA.
He lamented that the global chocolate industry, valued at over $120 billion annually, stands on the foundation of the African cocoa ecosystem, but that the economic benefits remain disproportionately distributed, leaving African cocoa farmers vulnerable to poverty, price volatility, and exploitative trading practices.
“COFAAA is dedicated to reversing these trends by advancing economic justice, amplifying the voices of cocoa farmers, and driving sustainable innovations that enhance the well-being of farmers and their communities in collaboration with our global cocoa institutions, partners and cocoa origins countries’ governments working assiduously to improve the livelihoods of the cocoa farmers in Africa.
“The way forward for us is to continue to increase African cocoa production share and local processing with consumption to about four million metric tonnes representing 90 percent of the global cocoa production through better productivity per hectare (800kg to 1000kg), sustainable practices like cocoa agroforestry intensification, cocoa ecosystem management, traceability, good processing techniques to achieve good flavor / premium and smart climate & soil management practices with youth inclusiveness.
The webinar according to him was organised to promote and sustain African leadership in the global cocoa economy through a united voice of the smallholder cocoa farmers of Africa, ensure increased production and productivity through sustainable practices and enhanced collaboration amongst African cocoa stakeholders.
He said that COFAAA is a distinguished pan-African membership organization that unites cocoa farmers in a collaborative effort to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the cocoa industry.
“Our mission is to champion sustainable farming practices, empower farmers, and ensure the long-term viability of the global cocoa ecosystem. As you are well aware, Africa’s cocoa industry is not only a key economic driver but also a symbol of our agricultural strength and heritage.
He lamented that despite Africa’s significant contribution of over 70 percent of global cocoa production, the farmers continue to grapple with economic disparity and systemic challenges that undermine their prosperity.
He appreciated the global cocoa institutions, cocoa producing countries’ governments, partners and stakeholders such as the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Cote d’voire and Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CighCi), Conseil du Cafe-Cacao (CCC)- Cote d’voire, Ghana Cocoa Board – Ghana, National Cocoa and Coffee Board – Cameroon, National Cocoa Management Committee -Nigeria among others for the good work done so far to support the cocoa farmers and maintain African cocoa Production advantage regardless of the challenges the cocoa ecosystems are currently going through due to climate change.
He noted that good policy framework and strategic collaborations have been achieved by many of the cocoa producing countries’ governments and institutions in Africa to support and maintain African leadership in cocoa production which is at 70 per cent from the world cocoa production.
Alex Assanvo, the Executive Secretary of Cote d’ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGHCI) for his keynote address commended COFAA for coming up with the regional organisation to amplify the voice of the cocoa farmers.
Assanvo, who was represented by Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteg, Deputy Executive Secretary and Technical Manager to CIGHCI noted that the organization is timely and that it aligned with the vision and mission of the Cote d’ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative working for the cocoa farmers’ prosperity through the three pillars of sustainability; economic, social and environmental.
He said that the CIGHCI was put in place by the presidents of Cote d’ivoire and Ghana to address dire situations at some point and to jointly address remuneration through pricing for their cocoa farmers at the two countries which are giants in cocoa production and accounted for the 70 per cent of the African cocoa production.
While reacting to Adegoke’s address he said that it is believed that cocoa is not only the livelihoods of cocoa communities but the heritage of their ancestors.
According to her, many of our cocoa farmers live in abject poverty and many social inequities amongst our cocoa farmers in their communities.
She emphasised that policy that believes in the protection of the people and the planet must reflect in the livelihoods of the cocoa farmers through decent incomes and mutual benefits of cocoa Value Chain stakeholders.
Speaking further she said that economic sustainability is being tackled by CIGHCI through fair pricing for the cocoa farmers in Cote d’voire and Ghana to enhance their prosperity and also strengthening local processing and value addition in order to increase better values for the cocoa farmers.
On environmental sustainability, she pointed out that the organisation is tackling that through providing solutions to pest and disease affecting most cocoa producing countries such as cocoa swollen shoot disease and coming up with varieties that are drought and pest resistant to support production with climate-smart practices.
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