Cocoa Farmers Still Trapped in Poverty Despite Record Global Prices – 2025 Barometer

 October 9, 2025 

Most Ghanaian cocoa farmers remain below the living income line despite record global cocoa prices and improved macroeconomic conditions, according to the 2025 Cocoa Barometer released by a coalition of civil society groups and research institutions.

The report exposes a stark inequality in the cocoa value chain, revealing that Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire—which together produce over 60% of the world's cocoa—capture less than 6% of the industry's total value. "Cocoa producers continue to shoulder the highest risks yet capture the least returns," the Barometer states.

The report attributes this imbalance to the structure of global cocoa trade, where multinational chocolate companies and traders dominate pricing power. It warns that initiatives like the Living Income Differential cannot deliver meaningful change without greater transparency and stronger farmer representation in price-setting decisions. "A fair price must move from rhetoric to reality," the document insists.

The Barometer identifies urgent challenges including productivity issues, aging farms, and climate stress. It calls for expanded domestic cocoa processing to help Ghana capture more value locally, declaring that "value addition within producing countries must be treated as an economic imperative, not an optional goal."

Environmental pressures pose an additional threat. The report warns that illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, continues destroying farmlands and contaminating water bodies in cocoa-growing regions. Unchecked environmental degradation could permanently damage Ghana's production capacity and global reputation for sustainable sourcing, the Barometer cautions.

To address these challenges, the report recommends coordinated policy responses combining stronger land governance, incentives for sustainable farming, and closer collaboration with development partners to restore degraded cocoa landscapes.

The findings come weeks after the government announced a 12.27% increase in producer prices on October 2, 2025, raising cocoa prices from GH¢3,228.75 to GH¢3,625 per bag (GH¢58,000 per metric ton, up from GH¢51,660). However, the Barometer suggests that price increases alone cannot resolve the structural inequalities without comprehensive reforms.

The report presents an urgent call for policymakers to ensure Ghana's macroeconomic recovery translates into tangible prosperity for the country's cocoa farmers, who remain the backbone of a multi-billion dollar global industry yet see minimal benefits from their labor.