The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has expressed interest in promoting sustainable cocoa and coffee value chains across Africa while showcasing Nigeria’s commitment to improving productivity, sustainability, and export potential in the sectors.
The development comes as COCEFAAA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), cocoa and coffee-producing states, and private sector partners, prepares to host the Cocoa and Coffee Fiesta in Lagos on October 7 and 8, 2026, themed: “Building a Sustainable Value Chain for Cocoa and Coffee Across West, Central and East Africa.”
This was made known in a statement signed by the Global President of COCEFAAA, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, and made available to Agronigeria.
According to the president, the global cocoa and coffee sectors are forecast to grow significantly by 2035, with cocoa projected to increase from its current value of $169.12 billion to $245.97 billion, while coffee is expected to rise from $284.8 billion to $486.2 billion.
He noted that Africa remains the dominant player in global cocoa production, accounting for about 70 percent of output, while contributing approximately 12.5 percent of global coffee production.
Adegoke commended the resilience of leading cocoa-producing countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, as well as major coffee-producing nations such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania and Sierra Leone, for their continued contributions to the sectors.
He said: “Cocoa and Coffee sectors’ values have been forecasted to grow from the present USD 169.12 billion and USD 284.8 billion to USD 245.97 billion and USD 486.2 billion respectively in the year 2035.
“Africa holds the ace in cocoa with about 70%, while in coffee is just about 12.5% as a continent. COCEFAAA will continue to appreciate the great resilience of these countries in cocoa: Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria etc for their consistency in cocoa production and Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania, Sierra Leone etc for their coffee production contributions; Arabica, Robusta and specialty.”
He explained that the Cocoa and Coffee Fiesta would herald Africa’s strength and commitment to the sustainability of the two strategic commodities while highlighting Nigeria’s efforts toward reviving coffee production through the Nigeria Coffee Revival Initiative (NCRI).
According to him, the initiative, driven through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), will support deliberate efforts to boost cocoa productivity through integrated soil management approaches in collaboration with donor partners.
He stated that these interventions would help expand Nigeria’s export portfolio, create employment opportunities for youths and women, increase foreign exchange earnings, deepen rural prosperity, improve farmers’ incomes through diversification, and strengthen climate resilience strategies.
The COCEFAAA President further said the event would foster regional integration, collaboration and coordination among countries in West, Central and East Africa to address socio-economic and environmental challenges affecting the sectors.
He added that a united African alliance in cocoa and coffee would help protect investments across the value chains while strengthening the position of farmers and other industry stakeholders.
Adegoke disclosed that stakeholders from across Africa and other parts of the world are expected to participate in the fiesta alongside global partners in the cocoa and coffee industries.
He observed that despite prolonged price volatility, African countries have continued to demonstrate resilience in sustaining cocoa and coffee value chains, noting that fluctuating prices have slowed development and contributed to unstable livelihoods for many farmers across the continent.
The event will also serve as the official launch of the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA), which is expected to become the first pan-African membership organisation representing cocoa and coffee farmers on the continent.
According to the statement, the association will focus on amplifying farmers’ voices, promoting sustainable production practices, advocating fair pricing and improved incomes, enhancing market access, eliminating child and forced labour from supply chains, empowering women and youths, and advancing climate-resilient agricultural practices.
It added that COCEFAAA would mobilise farmers across Africa to adopt improved pre- and post-harvest practices aimed at producing premium and deforestation-free cocoa and coffee.
The statement further revealed that activities lined up for the fiesta include expert panel discussions on the event’s theme and other discussion areas will focus on price volatility, European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) preparedness and compliance, expansion of agroforestry adoption, integrated soil management models, carbon credit opportunities, African farmers’ income frameworks, de-commoditisation strategies through regional collaboration, and the official launch of COCEFAAA.
