{
  "id": 4663324,
  "title": "Fairtrade Africa Presses Cocoa Industry to Close the Living Income Gap",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/fairtrade-africa-presses-cocoa-industry-to-close-the-living-income-gap",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T15:11:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general-news/fairtrade-africa-presses-cocoa-industry-to-close-the-living-income-gap/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fairtrade Africa has urged a more collaborative approach among cocoa producers, traders, regulators, governments, and other industry players to expedite the attainment of a living income for cocoa farmers and enhance their livelihoods. This plea came during the Fairtrade Africa Change Day 2026, where Fairtrade-certified smallholder farmers and workers from across Africa, traders, development partners, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss persistent market access issues, review advancements in farmer livelihood improvements, and explore solutions to these challenges. The meeting was held in light of the recent publication of new Fairtrade Living Income Reference Prices for cocoa, designed to serve as a benchmark for the income farmers must earn to maintain a decent standard of living. For Ghana, this reference price is set at GH¢45.40 per kilogramme, roughly US$3.95, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous level. In Côte d'Ivoire, the reference price stands at 1,758 CFA francs per kilogramme, approximately US$3.11, reflecting a 47 percent increase. At the Change Day, the Immediate Past Board Chair of Fairtrade Africa, Mr. Benjamin Kouame, emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts and ongoing progress monitoring. \"We convene here today with our partners to underscore our commitment and to evaluate our starting point, our achievements, the obstacles we've faced, and to devise solutions to ensure our actions are more sustainable,\" Mr. Kouame stated to attendees. Mr. Kouame also underlined the importance of an economic model that benefits farmers and workers, likening it to the Fairtrade model, which can enable them to invest in community development projects and strengthen the capacity and resilience of farmers, workers, and the community at large. Isaac Tongola, Executive Director of Fairtrade Africa, noted that the new Living Income Reference Prices offer a clear benchmark for buyers and other actors aiming to establish more sustainable cocoa supply chains. \"Fairtrade, through its standards, establishes that level, and then our partners, the traders, can purchase at that rate,\" Mr. Tongola stated. The Living Income Reference Price forms part of Fairtrade's comprehensive strategy for supporting farmers, complementing its Fairtrade Standards, Minimum Price, Premium, and Programs. The Minimum Price functions as a baseline, ensuring buyers pay when prices drop below production costs, thus safeguarding farmers. Conversely, the Premium is an additional sum paid on top of the purchase price, which farmers can allocate towards their enterprises and communities. The Living Income Reference Price, meanwhile, offers a benchmark to ascertain the price required for a farmer and their family to achieve a modest living standard from cocoa sales. This price is essential to ensure that farmers can, at minimum, live a decent life from their cocoa sales. Fairtrade Africa reports progress through its West Africa Cocoa Programme, which has benefited over 48,000 farmers in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The poverty levels among these beneficiaries have decreased to 17 percent, and the percentage earning a living income has risen from 28 percent to 48 percent. Despite these advancements, notable challenges persist within the cocoa sector. Stakeholders at the Change Day stressed the necessity for robust strategic partnerships and ongoing investments to foster more resilient and commercially viable cocoa supply chains. Key areas highlighted include enhancing quality and productivity, reinforcing farmers' resilience against plant diseases that impact yields, and addressing the escalating costs of inputs. Currently, Fairtrade Africa operates across 18 product categories and has made significant strides in forming stronger alliances with stakeholders in their respective sectors under their recently launched three-year strategy.",
  "summary": "Fairtrade Africa has called for stronger collaboration among cocoa producers, traders, regulators, governments and other industry players, as stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the living income for cocoa farmers farmer livelihoods amid continuing pressure from low market prices and rising production. This call was made during the Fair-Trade Africa Change Day 2026, which brought together…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}