Cocoa and Coffee Markets Boom, but African Farmers Left Behind, COCEFAAA Warns
By Aboki Forex —
The global cocoa and chocolate market is set to grow from $169.12 billion in 2025 to $245.97 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.44 per cent. Rising demand for dark chocolate due to heart health benefits, Europe’s market dominance, and a growing cocoa culture in Asia and India are driving the surge. The global coffee market is also expanding, projected to reach $486.2 billion by 2035, up from $284.8 billion today. Growth is fuelled by coffee culture and ready-to-drink options. Climate change is threatening Arabica yields, pushing the industry toward Fine Robusta and heat-resistant varieties, creating an opening for African producers.
Farmers Face Hardship as Prices Volatile
Despite these promising figures, cocoa and coffee farmers in West, East, and Central Africa are struggling. Reports show they are absorbing losses when global prices fall below production costs. This means skipped meals, children pulled from school, and no money for basic healthcare. Volatile prices also prevent farmers from buying fertilisers, inputs, labour, or climate-resilient seedlings, trapping them in a cycle of low yields and rising debt. As temperatures rise, smallholders are forced to higher altitudes or off their ancestral lands, with no financial safety net from global brands.
COCEFAAA Calls for Structural Change
The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) warns that farmer poverty threatens the entire supply chain. Global President Comrade Adeola Adegoke said when farmers cannot maintain their land, global supply quality and quantity suffer. “A drop in prices does not merely hurt households; it threatens the resilience of the entire global supply chain,” he said.
Adegoke outlined three strategic pillars for Africa to capture more value: research and development for drought and pest-resistant crops, domestic roasting and processing plants to retain value, and regional collaboration for collective bargaining. He noted that most of the $245 billion cocoa and $486.2 billion coffee valuation is captured at processing and retail stages, not on farms. Africa must move beyond the farm gate.
COCEFAAA is advocating for long-term purchasing agreements that guarantee a living income for farmers, regardless of price swings. “Price volatility must no longer be a burden borne exclusively by the producer,” Adegoke said. He called for increased investment in farmer training, subsidised inputs, and co-funding of African-led research into climate-resilient crops.
He also highlighted opportunities in emerging markets like India and Asia. “The expanding middle class in Asia and deeper trade ties with India present a massive frontier for market diversification,” he said. “We cannot talk about a $245 billion cocoa market or a $486.2 billion coffee market while the people growing the beans are struggling to put food on their own tables. If the world wants Africa to contribute to the 2031 and 2035 projections, the world must first invest in the dignity and survival of the African farmer.”
Adegoke stressed that the success of regional initiatives depends on global manufacturers treating farmer livelihoods as the foundation of the supply chain. “The time for structural reform is now,” he said.