Fairtrade Africa urges cocoa industry to close living income gap

Fairtrade Africa is calling for increased collaboration between cocoa producers, traders, regulators, and governments to address the living income gap for cocoa farmers. The organization emphasized the need for collective action to combat the pressures of rising production costs and low market prices.

During the Fairtrade Africa Change Day 2026, new Living Income Reference Prices for cocoa were introduced to serve as benchmarks for sustainable farmer livelihoods. In Ghana, the reference price has been set at GH¢45.40 per kilogramme (approximately US$3.95), representing a 10 per cent increase. In Côte d’Ivoire, the price is set at 1,758 CFA francs per kilogramme (approximately US$3.11), a 47 per cent increase.

Benjamin Kouame, the Immediate Past Board Chair of Fairtrade Africa, noted that the goal is to implement economic models that return financial benefits directly to farmers and workers, enabling investment in community development and increased resilience.