Cocoa farmers in southeast Cameroon are adapting to EU regulations, but they still want a fair price

August 10, 2026

Cocoa farmers in Cameroon's Ekombitie village are preparing to comply with the European Union's upcoming deforestation regulation while struggling with cocoa prices that have plummeted to less than half their 2023-2024 peak values. The EU Deforestation Regulation, set to take effect next year, requires all imported cocoa to be deforestation-free, traceable, and legally produced. Farmers like Paul Mbarga Jr.

Who is affected

Cooperative cocoa farmers in Ekombitie village, Cameroon's South Region
Specific farmers including Paul Mbarga Jr., Issah Naimuaforkang Kinyui (village chief), and Bernadette Ondobo (Vice-president of Scoops-PROCAM cooperative)
Cameroon's cocoa industry (world's fifth-largest producer, Africa's fourth-biggest grower)
EU cocoa importers and buyers in the supply chain
Local cooperatives in the cocoa-producing regions

What action is being taken

Forty cooperative cocoa farmers are meeting to discuss agroforestry best practices
Farmers are implementing sustainable farming techniques including selective tree preservation, proper plant spacing, and strategic seed selection
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) through its CANOPE initiative is teaching farmers agricultural techniques and supporting their transition to sustainable agroforestry practices
WWF is mapping all farms for participating farmers and producing ownership documents
Farmers are creating nurseries to replace aging cocoa trees
The Scoops-PROCAM cooperative is working on producing certified cocoa that respects environmental and quality standards
WWF is helping farmers obtain property ownership documents and establish traceability systems through geo-referencing

Why it matters

This situation is significant because Cameroon is a major global cocoa producer, and the EU regulation will fundamentally change how cocoa farming operates in the region. The regulation has potential to promote environmental sustainability by protecting old-growth forests, which scientists identify as essential for fighting climate change due to their higher carbon densities and ecological importance. However, the regulation arrives during a period of severe price instability, with cocoa prices dropping from FCFA 6,000 per kilogram in 2023-2024 to as low as FCFA 2,750 in 2026. The success or failure of this transition will determine whether small-scale farmers can maintain their livelihoods while meeting international sustainability standards, and whether environmental protection can be achieved without economically disadvantaging producers in developing countries.

What's next

The EU Deforestation Regulation will be implemented next year
Farmers need to complete geo-referencing and obtain land titles to ensure traceability
Cooperatives must continue improving management capabilities and governance practices
Farmers await to see whether compliance with the regulation will result in improved prices and fair compensation for their additional efforts

Read full article from source: Global Voices