"𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬" The world has witnessed a significant surge in international #cocoa prices in 2023 and 2024, driven by tightening global supplies and strong market demand. Yet, despite this windfall, #Ghanaian #cocoa #farmers were constrained from fully benefiting from these record highs. In our latest article for The Conversation UK, Sophie van Huellen and I delve into the reasons behind this paradox. At the heart of the issue lies Ghana's longstanding reliance on the 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧—𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 $28 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬. While crucial for stabilizing cocoa purchases, this loan constrains the Cocoa Marketing Company's (CMC GH.) flexibility to leverage favorable spot prices in an inverted cocoa market, ultimately sidelining farmers from potential gains. However, change is on the horizon. Ghana’s decision to end its 31-year dependency on the Syndicated Loan from the 2024/25 season marks a pivotal moment for the industry. In this article, we hint at how this shift could redefine Ghana's cocoa value chain, opening pathways for farmer-centric reforms and greater economic benefits. We invite you to read and share your thoughts on this critical discussion shaping the future of Ghana's cocoa industry. Here is the link to the article: https://lnkd.in/eiNik5VT You are encouraged to subscribe to The Conversation UK Newsletter via https://lnkd.in/eWH6x5T9 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) World Cocoa Foundation The World Bank UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Olam Barry Callebaut Group Cargill Touton SA SUCDEN Groupe Sucres & Denrées Solidaridad Network Fairtrade International The Living Income Community of Practice
In Ivory Coast there is no syndicated loan, and their farmers have not benefitted from last year's rally either. And again this season, neither farmers in Ivory Coast, nor in Ghana are benefitting from recent blistering price rally. I have posted regularly why that is.
Could someone please explain the gap between LIFFE and farmgate pricing? Why is there not a mechanism for cocoa farmers to get a % share of the eventual sales price?
Thanks for the post, Fuad and Sophie. Really great to see your leadership on this complex challenge. Given the depth and extent of financialisaton in the cocoa sector, what are the potential downside risks of this new CMC financing model? In this new system, how will Cocobod meet its funding requirements, especially the extension of funds in Cedi to LBCs for marketing/buying (or will this stop)? How will the lack of US dollar reserves influence central bank policy and lending to Cocobod? Will this increase domestic lending costs for the sector? Sorry, lots of questions :)
The price per ton for cocoa farmers is not encouraging. This makes them give their lands to small scale miners or for rubber plantation. Secondly we the youth are not encouraged to do cocoa farming because the cocoa price is far below. Inputs prices are higher than price of the cocoa price.
Creating a sustainable cashew supply chain through farmer unity in Ghana.
1moI am surprised the word “Marketing” is used in this context. How can you be the 2nd grower of this crop in the world and your farmers are still poor? I hate to say this Mr Abubakari, Ghana needs to abolish its Cocoa Board including all staff. A new administration that actually understands marketing is strongly needed. Selling what you produce with profit so you in turn can give some of the proceeds back to the farmers who made it all possible is not difficult. I only wish Ghanaian farmers could be as brave as U.K. and French farmers. What is really frustrating is every Ghanaian is a sales person. From the women in Makola market to the boys on the streets of Accra selling something in traffic. Yet you have educated men and women sitting in aircon offices who cannot sell so let’s use the climate and syndicated trading as a poor excuse. Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board needs to go!