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By James Kollie
Lofa County, Liberia – Cocoa farmers in the Wanhassa District are expressing deep frustration over a sharp decline in cocoa bean prices this year, a drop they say is threatening their livelihoods and undermining the local cocoa economy. For generations, cocoa farming has been a cornerstone of Wanhassa’s agricultural activity, providing income for thousands of families across Bolahun, Massabolahun, and Fangoda towns.
Farmers report that the price of cocoa beans, which previously sold for LD$800 per kilo, has plummeted to LD$350 per kilo, a decline of more than 56 percent, forcing many to reconsider their planting and harvesting plans.
“Last year, they used to buy our cocoa at LD$800 per kilo, and some even at LD$1,000. This year, we are disheartened that the highest price is only LD$350,” said J. Vannie Karmo, a farmer from Fangoda, highlighting the sudden financial strain on households that rely heavily on cocoa sales for essentials such as food, school fees, and farm maintenance.
The Sebehill Kulasunumai Multi-Purpose Farmers Society, a cooperative established in 2008 to support local cocoa farmers, is also feeling the impact. The society purchases cocoa from farmers to ensure fair prices and help producers access larger markets. However, in the current market climate, Sebehill struggles to find buyers in Monrovia, Liberia’s primary cocoa trading hub.
Fofie Nyeh, the society’s manager, explained that the cooperative has increasingly turned to neighboring Sierra Leone, where cocoa commands higher rates, but logistical and regulatory restrictions complicate cross-border sales. “We are buying cocoa beans from the farmers, but we are struggling to find buyers in Monrovia, making it difficult for us,” Nyeh said, underscoring the precarious position of local cooperatives caught between low domestic demand and limited export options.
Farmers are now calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant authorities to intervene, either by facilitating direct purchases or by implementing policies to stabilize local cocoa prices. Many hope that government support can prevent further economic hardship and sustain cocoa farming as a viable livelihood in Wanhassa and surrounding communities.
The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) provided context on the situation, highlighting both farmer and buyer challenges in Lofa County, particularly Wanhassa District.
According to LACRA County Coordinator Augustine Argbah, many farmers are now selling wet cocoa beans instead of fermented ones due to urgent financial needs, including school fees, farm maintenance, construction projects, and other personal obligations. This shift has affected cocoa quality and pricing.
Buyers, on the other hand, report difficulties transporting cocoa due to poor road conditions linking Wanhassa to Kolahun District. They also cite challenges in dealing with farmers who do not follow proper drying and fermentation procedures, resulting in cocoa that fails to meet market standards.
LACRA officials note that enforcement is limited by logistical constraints, including a small team of just seven staff members for the entire county and the porous borders with Guinea and Sierra Leone, which complicate monitoring efforts. The Sebehill Cooperative, previously a stabilizing force for local cocoa trading, is also experiencing financial and managerial difficulties, though efforts are underway to strengthen its leadership through training and capacity-building.
LACRA has released official cocoa prices for all grades across Liberia, which are currently being enforced.
The situation underscores the challenges facing Lofa’s cocoa sector as farmers, cooperatives, and regulators navigate financial pressures, logistical hurdles, and market constraints.
