AFRICAN COCOA FARMERS TARGET 90 PERCENT LOCAL PROCESSING, CONSUMPTION OF GLOBAL COCOA PRODUCTION

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AFRICAN COCOA FARMERS TARGET 90 PERCENT LOCAL PROCESSING, CONSUMPTION OF GLOBAL COCOA PRODUCTION

…As Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa holds maiden global summit

…Global Coordinator, Comrade Adeola Adegoke says COFAAA is prepared to advance economic justice, amplify voices of cocoa farmers and drive sustainable innovations

The Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) has expressed the readiness to ensure that farmers in the continent get the commensurate value for their contributions to global cocoa value chains.

The President and Global Coordinator of COFAAA, Comrade Adeola Adegoke who was speaking at the maiden global webinar of the association tagged “One Voice, One Future Uniting Cocoa Farmers Through a Thriving Africa” emphasized the need to reverse a trend where African Cocoa farmers are vulnerable to poverty, price volatility, and exploitative trading practices.

Comrade Adegoke lamented that despite the fact that the global chocolate industry valued at over $120 billion annually stands on the foundation of African cocoa ecosystem, the economic benefits remain disproportionately distributed,

The Global Coordinator assured that that would enhance the well-being of farmers and their communities in collaboration with global cocoa institutions and partners.

In his words, “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 longterm 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”.

“Despite Africa’s significant contribution of over 70% of global cocoa production, our farmers continue to grapple with economic disparity and systemic challenges that undermine their prosperity”.

“The global chocolate industry, valued at over $120 billion annually, stands on the foundation of African cocoa ecosystem. However, 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”.

Comrade Adegoke called for increase in African cocoa production share and local processing with consumption of about 90% of global production.

“The way forward for us is to continue to increase African cocoa production share and local processing with consumption to about four (4) million metric tonnes representing 90% of the global cocoa production through better productivity per hectare (800kg to 1000kg), sustainable practices e.g cocoa agroforestry intensification, cocoa ecosystem management, traceability, good processing techniques to achieve good flavor / premium and smart climate & soil management practices with youth inclusiveness”.

Adegoke expressed happiness that commitment and collaboration by members across the continent have started yielding positive results, expressing the hope of realising the dreams and mission of the association.

He stressed that “COFAAA is determined to promote and sustain African leadership in the global cocoa economy through a united voice of the smallholder cocoa farmers of Africa, increased production and productivity through sustainable practices and enhanced collaboration amongst African cocoa stakeholders”.

“No doubt, your commitment, contributions and sacrifice so far has started to be yielding fruit through this maiden global COFAAA webinar put in place to solve the socio-economic issues around our cocoa ecosystem as it affects the livelihoods of our cocoa farmers and it’s impact on global cocoa economy”.

“I do know that posterity will be kind to you all in the future for your great contributions to the African cocoa sustainability and empowerment of our smallholder cocoa farmers in Africa”.

“I will like to appreciate the global cocoa institutions, cocoa producing countries’ governments, partners and stakeholders e.g; International Cocoa Organization (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 etc for the good work done so far to support our cocoa farmers and maintain African cocoa Production advantage regardless of the challenges our cocoa ecosystems are currently going through due to climate change”.

“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% from the world cocoa production”.

“Kudos to the following countries for maintaining the giants strides in cocoa production in Africa; Cote d’voire, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Liberia, DR Congo, Togo, Kenya etc”.

Various speakers from across the continent emphasized value addition to ensure that more entrepreneurs are involved to enable the African Cocoa farmers meet their targets.

They wondered why Nigeria and South Africa, for example have to be importing chocolate into their countries.