Africa has been urged to take advantage of the rapidly expanding global cocoa and chocolate industry by investing in value addition, research, and regional collaboration to protect farmers and increase the continent’s share of global profits.
According to a report, the global cocoa and chocolate market is projected to grow from $169.12 billion in 2025 to $245.97 billion by 2031, driven by rising demand for dark chocolate, expanding markets in Europe and Asia, and increased cocoa consumption in countries like India.
The global coffee market is also expected to rise from $284.8 billion to about $486.2 billion by 2035, with growth fuelled by coffee culture and ready-to-drink products.
Speaking on the development, Adeola Adegoke, president of the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa, said African farmers continue to bear the burden of volatile prices, climate change, and poor investment despite the booming global industry.
He warned that declining incomes among cocoa and coffee farmers threaten the stability of the global supply chain, as many producers struggle with rising production costs, poor access to fertilisers, healthcare challenges, and climate-related threats.
Adeola Adegoke called on African countries to move beyond exporting raw cocoa beans by establishing local processing and roasting facilities capable of producing finished cocoa and coffee products for export.
He also urged African nations to strengthen regional cooperation to improve collective bargaining power and stabilise prices for farmers across West, East, and Central Africa.
According to him, manufacturers and global partners must adopt long-term purchasing agreements that guarantee living incomes for farmers, while also investing in agricultural research, climate-resistant crop varieties, irrigation systems, and farmer training programmes.
Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa added that growing demand from Asian markets presents Africa with an opportunity to diversify exports and reduce dependence on traditional Western markets.
