Cocoa farmers of the South West region have engaged in alternative crops cultivation, to cover up the fall in Cocoa price and improve living standards.
Most Cocoa farmers of the South West region are yet to recover from the shock and trauma of the drastic drop in Cocoa price from FCFA 5000 to now FCFA 800. The sharp rise in Cocoa price in 2024, rekindled the hopes and aspirations of farmers, leading to increase in purchasing power and overall expenditures. Farmers hope was dashed in less than a year, as the price falls drastically in 2025.
Without any prospects of the price rising above FCFA 1500, most Cocoa producers have engaged in diversification to handle the fallen price. Plantains, yams, maize, are some of the crops these farmers are interplanting in between Cocoa stems. They are sure of harvesting these crops for domestic consumption and to sell.
One Cocoa farmer, Elangwe Bali said, « with 100 plantains planted in between Cocoa trees, I am sure of selling just plantain for FCFA 500.000 in a year. I have planted maize in open space and with that am sure of at least five bags per harvest. This year, I will not spend much to buy food stuff for my family as most of the food stuff will come from my farm. For the past years we have been neglecting this, but the failure in Cocoa has taught us to diversify. I have equally encouraged all my friends to do same. Rather than depending solely on Cocoa that we can not consume at home, it’s better to mixed it with foodstuffs that are consumable. If there is no customer to buy my plantain or Maize, we will consume them at home ».
Another farmer, Romanus Awenya disclosed that he is engaging on Poultry and pig farming as alternatives. He said » I have space behind my house, with few stems of Cocoa there. My intention is to feel down the few Cocoa stems and build a fence for pigs and a little for poultry. I will run these together with my Cocoa farms. My poultry farm will ease the cost of buying Cocoa farm inputs. Cocoa Price has shown us that there is no stability and bright future, hence no need to depend solely on it.
Why some Cocoa farmers are contemplating felling down the trees, others are busy diversifying.
Despite the fall in Cocoa Price, most farmers still believe that the present price still remain higher than what obtained in the early 2000. According to some farmers, FCFA 1000 per kilogram is a good price for Cocoa. Their only worry is the increase in the price of fungicide and other chemicals. They decry the high cost of farm chemicals which at times rises to over FCFA 1000 per sachet.
If the government can subsidize the price of chemicals, as well as the drop in prices of household goods in the market, Cocoa farmers will live a comfortable life, with a minimum of FCFA 1000 per kilogram of Cocoa.
Jude Efutercha
