Muyuka, Cameroon - Cocoa farmers in Cameroon are grappling with an unprecedented surge in cocoa prices due to increased international demand and local crop diseases.
Chief Orok John, a local producer from Muyuka, southwest Cameroon, is among those feeling the pinch as diseases weaken his crops and competition for cocoa beans drives prices higher.
Recently, the price of cocoa on the international market has soared to over $10,000 per tonne, largely due to scarcity influenced by poor crop quality and climate change.
This price hike is hitting hard in cocoa-producing nations like Cameroon, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, where cocoa beans are increasingly in short supply.
Hippolyte Nozawo Tchoffo, a chocolate-maker based in Douala, points to several factors for the scarcity. Many cocoa farmers have either abandoned their plantations or failed to maintain them due to historically low cocoa prices, resulting in aged plantations and decreased yields.
Additionally, unpredictable weather patterns exacerbated by climate change, such as unexpected heavy rains and resultant mold, have further compromised crop quality.
In Cameroon, the impact is particularly stark. The price per kilo of cocoa has skyrocketed from 900 to 7,000 francs in just one month, posing a significant challenge for local processors like Tchoffo.
He explains that the cost increase has forced the price of chocolate bars to rise substantially, which may ultimately deter customers and threaten the viability of local chocolate production.
The government of Cameroon has recognized the urgency of the situation and is promising financial assistance to help farmers produce healthy, standard-meeting cocoa for both local and international markets.
Meanwhile, chocolate manufacturers are calling for the government to repay an export tax to alleviate some of their financial strain.
This situation highlights the delicate balance between agricultural production and market forces in a globalized economy, where local events can have far-reaching effects on international markets and vice versa.
As some chocolate-makers halt production in hopes of cost reductions, the future of Cameroon’s cocoa industry hangs in the balance, awaiting effective interventions to stabilize the market and support sustainable farming practices.
