The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has expressed concern over persistent price volatility in Africa’s cocoa market, warning that unpredictable fluctuations are eroding farmers’ incomes, discouraging investment, and threatening the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Speaking ahead of the Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta scheduled for October 7 and 8, 2026, in Lagos, COCEFAAA Global President, Adeola Adegoke, said African cocoa farmers have continued to demonstrate resilience despite years of economic shocks that have affected productivity, profitability, and growth.
Adegoke noted that while Africa produces about 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, many farmers across the continent continue to struggle with unstable earnings and uncertain market conditions.
He described market volatility as one of the biggest challenges confronting the industry, saying frequent price swings create uncertainty for producers and reduce investor confidence in the agricultural value chain.
According to him, cocoa-producing countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon have sustained global supply for decades, yet local farmers often bear the greatest burden whenever international market disruptions occur.
To address these challenges, stakeholders from across the cocoa and coffee industries are expected to converge in Lagos to explore practical solutions aimed at improving price stability, expanding market opportunities, strengthening sustainability, and enhancing the competitiveness of African producers.
Key discussions at the event will focus on farmer income improvement frameworks, strategies for reducing dependence on commodity-based pricing, agroforestry development, carbon credit opportunities, integrated soil management practices, and compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
COCEFAAA stressed that stronger cooperation among African cocoa-producing nations is essential to tackling the economic, environmental, and social issues affecting the industry. The alliance argued that a coordinated regional approach would strengthen Africa’s bargaining power and help secure fairer returns for farmers.
The event will also feature the formal launch of COCEFAAA as what it describes as Africa’s first continent-wide membership organisation dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of cocoa and coffee farmers.
According to the association, its objectives include promoting fair pricing, improving market access, amplifying farmers’ voices in policy discussions, empowering women and young people in agriculture, and strengthening climate resilience across farming communities.
The Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta is expected to attract a broad range of stakeholders, including farmers, processors, exporters, researchers, policymakers, investors, development agencies, and international industry leaders, providing a platform for dialogue on the future of Africa’s cocoa and coffee sectors.
