By Njodzeka Kernyuy
The government of Cameroon has promised better cocoa prices for farmers following a record high last season.
Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana made the assurance on Thursday, August 7, at Mbankomo in the Centre Region.
“Following a successful 2024/2025 season, with farmgate prices exceeding 5,000 CFA francs per kilogram, the government aims to maintain this positive momentum,” the minister said.
To him, the indicators for the new cocoa campaign are promising.
“All signs point to a favourable outlook. Prices will remain good. Gradually, we are achieving a balance that benefits all stakeholders in the value chain.”
He emphasised the importance of collaboration among producers, industry, and consumers.
The Minister, however, acknowledged the need for greater market transparency amid differing concerns from various actors.
“On the one hand, the industry complains that prices are too high; on the other, producers argue that prices are still not ideal. This highlights a transparency issue in the market,” he explained.
All-time High Last Year
In the last cocoa season, prices rose to an all-time high, selling around 6,000 CFA francs per kilogram.
In the previous years, Cameroonian farmers have always sold below 1,000 CFA francs per kilogram.
The prices in the past two years have greatly improved the lives of cocoa farmers, with the government urging them to produce more.
According to the Minister, Cameroonian cocoa is highly sought after on the international market.
However, this pursuit of excellence must also align with environmental and social sustainability, the Minister stressed, adding that the government is determined to wage “the battle for market transparency” to ensure better value distribution across the sector.
The event at Mbankomo was attended by government officials, including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, members of the CPDM Central Committee and the Australian High Commissioner to Cameroon and Nigeria with residence in Abuja.
