Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, two of the world’s largest cocoa producers, have set November 20 as the deadline given to multinational cocoa companies to align themselves with the amount of bonuses intended for planters, says a press release from the Ivorian Coffee Cocoa Council published on Thursday.
This Council and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) warned that after this time, they “will make recommendations to their respective governments to take action up to and including the suspension of all sustainability programs and the banning of access to plantations to carry out harvest forecasts », aspects which are indeed part of the European requirements for sustainable cocoa.
The standoff continues between these two cocoa producers, who represent more than 60% of world production, and the cocoa industry. For several years, the two giants have been calling for fairer compensation for planters. They want multinational buyers to pay, in addition to the price of cocoa, the entire “decent income differential” which is a premium introduced in 2021 and amounting to 400 dollars per ton.
“The partnership that we must forge together is one of mutual respect for our commitments to ensure the sustainability of the sector and lift the millions of small producers in our countries out of poverty”, defends the press release from the Ivorian Council.
Planters receive only 6% of the 100 billion dollars generated annually by the world cocoa and chocolate market. In the two West African countries, many planters live below the poverty line.
Recall that on October 26, Abidjan and Accra had boycotted the meeting of players in the cocoa sector organized in Brussels by the World Cocoa Foundation, to express their dissatisfaction.
By OMA Newsletter N° 935 of 11/11/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
