He said annual cocoa bean yields has been declining over the years, from the past heyday of 300 bags to 50 bags in 2025, affected by factors including climate change. Cocoa futures soared, then crashedHundreds of thousands of farmers in West Africa rely on cocoa farming for a living. In Ivory Coast, cocoa bean exports make up 40% of the total export revenue. The downturn in price meant global traders would run at a loss if they purchased cocoa beans from the two African countries. That led to a mounting stockpile of rotting cocoa beans in warehouses, while farmers who already sold their stocks to governments have not been paid for months.

Source: GhanaWeb March 09, 2026 17:14 UTC