A deepening crisis has been on the high in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector , a crisis striking at the heart of the world’s top cocoa-producing nation. Cocoa contributes about 14% of the country’s GDP, employs millions of smallholder farmers, and feeds global chocolate supply chains. Yet current market conditions and internal pressures have triggered significant challenges for producers and policymakers alike.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Production trends, After peaking at over 2.3 million tons in 2022/23, cocoa output dropped significantly declining around 24% to roughly 1.75 million tons in 2023/24. By February 2025, 1.36 million tons had been exported, a 17% year-on-year increase but still showing slower momentum compared to earlier surges. Despite a higher guaranteed farmgate price of 2 800 FCFA/kg, global cocoa prices have fallen sharply from recent highs reportedly down by around one-third leaving farmers with surplus stocks and little income.
We still haven’t found a solution, and it’s difficult for us farmers. The part that hurts me the most is the health aspect. When you’re sick and in hospital, you can’t say, « I’ve weighed my cocoa, I’m waiting for the money, so treat me on credit ». At the pharmacy, you can’t show your cocoa weighing receipt to get medicine. So I’m asking the President of the Republic and the government to think about the farmers.
ROCH BROU , Cocoa Producer
Large volumes of cocoa are unsold and stockpiled in cooperatives, with reports of tens of thousands of tons lying idle. Many farmers have gone months without payment, stretching household finances and pushing some into poverty. Farmers interviewed in cocoa-growing regions report frustration over logistical hurdles and delayed payments. With the current crop still ready for sale but money not in hand, families face difficulties covering basic costs such as healthcare and education.
The product has now been stored in my buyer’s shop for two months. I was given a receipt after the sale, but two months later, I still haven’t received a penny. However, I am relying heavily on this money to pay for my children’s school fees.
FRANÇOISE ASSI , Cocoa Producer
Meanwhile Government efforts from price guarantees to stock purchases and institutional reform aim to stabilize the situation. But for many cocoa farmers, the immediate priority remains receiving timely payments and securing sustainable incomes. Local cooperatives also warn that unless market operations normalize and buyers purchase stocks, economic hardship will deepen particularly among smallholders who depend solely on cocoa for income.
