By Cynthia Alo

Cocoa and coffee farmers in Nigeria have moved to steady price volatility in both commodities, which they said has eroded farmers’ incomes, discourage investment and constrain growth across the sector, for decades.

The farmers, under the aegis of Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) made the declaration, ahead of their Cocoa and Coffee Fiesta scheduled to hold in Lagos on October 7 and 8, 2026.

In a statement signed by its Global President, Adeola Adegoke, the alliance said Africa’s cocoa and coffee value chains have remained resilient despite years of unstable commodity prices that have adversely affected millions of farmers across producing countries.

According to the association, the recurring price swings have continued to undermine livelihoods and limit the ability of farmers and industry players to make long-term investments in production and value addition.

To address these challenges, COCEFAAA said it is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, cocoa- and coffee-producing states, as well as private-sector stakeholders, to host the fiesta in Lagos.

The event, themed “Building a Sustainable Value Chain for Cocoa and Coffee Across West, Central and East Africa,” is expected to among other things raise discussions capable of increasing yield, addressing farmers pain points and attracting stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on strategies for enhancing sustainability, improving farmer incomes and strengthening regional cooperation.

Adegoke noted that Africa accounts for about 70 per cent of global cocoa production but contributes only about 12.5 per cent of global coffee output, despite being home to several major coffee-producing nations.

He said the fiesta would underscore Africa’s commitment to the sustainable development of both commodities while showcasing Nigeria’s efforts to revive coffee production through the Nigeria Coffee Revival Initiative (NCRI) and increase cocoa productivity through improved soil management practices and partnerships with development organisations.

According to him, the initiative is expected to support export diversification, create employment opportunities for youths and women, boost foreign exchange earnings, deepen rural prosperity and strengthen climate resilience among farming communities.

Adegoke said COCEFAAA would remain committed to advancing the interests of cocoa and coffee farmers across the continent.

“COCEFAAA will continue to amplify Africa farmers’ voices, strengthen cocoa and coffee production by engaging in sustainable practices, demand better income through fair pricing, collaborate on improved access to markets, eradicate child and forced labour in our supply chains, empower our youth and women as the future of the sectors, and drive climate resilience through strategic collaboration with other stakeholders,” he said.

He added: “Our organisation will continue to mobilise farmers across the continent to ensure good pre- and post-harvest practices that will guarantee premium-quality and deforestation-free cocoa and coffee sectors.”

The alliance further stated that the gathering would promote greater regional integration among countries in West, Central and East Africa in addressing the socio-economic and environmental challenges affecting the sectors.

COCEFAAA also disclosed that the event would serve as the official launch of the alliance, which it described as the first pan-African membership organisation dedicated to cocoa and coffee farmers across the continent.

It added that discussions at the event would cover key industry issues, including price volatility, compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), agroforestry expansion, integrated soil management, carbon credit opportunities, farmer income frameworks and regional strategies for strengthening Africa’s position in global cocoa and coffee markets.

Industry forecasts cited by the alliance indicate that the global cocoa market is expected to grow from $169.12 billion to $245.97 billion by 2035, while the global coffee market is projected to rise from $284.8 billion to $486.2 billion within the same period.