Chocolate giants reap huge profits as promises to improve farmers’ incomes “ring hollow”

A new report by Oxfam says Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ paltry incomes fell on average by 16 percent since the start of the pandemic —while the confectionary profits of the four biggest public chocolate corporations on average jumped by the exact same rate.

The report noted that chocolate corporations’ sustainability programs are failing to deliver on promises to raise farmers’ incomes.

Oxfam is urging chocolate giants to significantly raise farm-gate prices paid to cocoa farmers.

Oxfam Ghana Country Director Tijani Hamza explains why this trend is unending despite the living wage initiation for cocoa farmers.