Ivory Coast Launches 280 Billion CFA Cocoa Buyback to Save Farmers

The world’s largest cocoa producer is taking drastic action to protect its agricultural backbone. On Thursday, January 29, 2026, the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) officially launched a massive initiative to purchase 100,000 metric tons of cocoa beans currently stockpiled across the country.

This state intervention aims to resolve a growing crisis that has left thousands of farmers unpaid. By injecting liquidity into the sector, the government hopes to prevent a nationwide social crisis in an industry that supports nearly one in five Ivorians.

Why Are Cocoa Stocks Piling Up?

According to Yves Brahima Koné, Director General of the CCC, a “perfect storm” of logistical and financial hurdles has stalled the market.

Primary drivers of the crisis include:

• Logistical Bottlenecks: Ships are arriving late at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, creating a massive backlog of available production.
• Liquidity Shortfalls: National exporters are struggling with cash flow, making it impossible for them to honor contracts with local cooperatives.
• Global Price Volatility: International cocoa prices have recently plummeted by nearly 30%, leading global buyers to hesitate on new purchases.
• Regional Influx: A record-high guaranteed price of 2,800 CFA francs per kg in Ivory Coast has discouraged smuggling out of the country while attracting beans from neighboring Ghana, Liberia, and Guinea.

A 280 Billion CFA Financial Lifeline

The government’s buyback scheme is expected to cost approximately 280 billion CFA francs (roughly $516 million). Under this plan, the state will act as a primary buyer to ensure that growers receive the official guaranteed price.

“We now have the assurance that growers will receive the official price set by the government,” Koné stated during a press conference. The strategy involves a two-stage process: first, purchasing and storing the beans, followed by rapid exportation as soon as international buyers express interest.

Restoring Stability to the Sector

Agriculture Minister Kobénan Kouassi Adjoumani emphasized that the government is fully mobilized to restore confidence across the value chain. To prevent further surpluses, the state also plans to ramp up border security to curb the influx of cocoa from neighboring nations attracted by the record-high Ivorian price.

By absorbing the current 120,000-ton surplus, the CCC aims to unclog the system and ensure that the wealth generated by the “brown gold” continues to reach the rural communities that rely on it most.