Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire say they would re-examine the cocoa industry’s sustainability schemes as chocolate makers have been slow to pay the two nations a living income differential (LID) for their beans.
The West African neighbours, who together produce more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, introduced the $400 living income differential (LID) in July on all cocoa sales for the 2020/21 season, in a bid to ease pervasive farmer poverty.
“The (chocolate) brands are focusing on their sustainability programmes at the expense of the LID. The two countries (are) therefore re-examining all sustainability and certification programmes for the 2019/20 season,” the two countries said in a joint statement issued on Thursday.
