But like most things in life, if you look more closely at the wrapper, you can find out a lot more about the conditions under which the beans in your bar were produced. Because the unpalatable truth is that the chocolate industry is a more bittersweet than you might think. And on 31st March, the government of Cote d’Ivoire announced it had reduced the guaranteed price paid to farmers by 25% compared to last year.
Around 60 percent of the world’s cocoa is produced by 2.5 million small farmers in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana under very tough conditions, in a small belt within 10 degrees of the equator, where the weather is hot and wet enough for the beans to thrive. The production of this precious commodity rests all too often on inequality, injustice and exploitation.
Despite working gruelling days, the average cocoa farmer in the cocoa belt earns just $1 per day or less, well below the extreme poverty line of $1.90 per day, and even further behind the amount that equates to a living income at around $2.50 a day. On top of this cocoa farmers are exposed to the volatility of the global cocoa market.
Gender equity
An already unacceptable situation is even worse for a large number of women farmers – Fairtrade has calculated they earn five times less than their male counterparts. Fairtrade is helping to challenge the gender gap, enabling women to stake their claim and succeed on their own terms. Fairtrade Standards are designed to prevent gender inequality, increase female participation and empower more women and girls to access the benefits of Fairtrade.
When the terms of trade are stacked against farmers it drives poverty, social injustice and environmental degradation. Without action, the systemic problems facing the cocoa sector will persist.
Therese belongs to CAVA co-operative in Côte d'Ivoire. She believes her children deserve more. So that’s her priority – doing everything she can to offer them better chances in life. In her words ‘to leave them higher’.