Cocoa farmers' woes began in 1995 when the government bowed to World Bank pressure and began liberalising the sector by putting the purchase and export of cocoa in the hands of private companies. In spite of protests, the government closed down all its cocoa purchasing centres nation-wide in 1995, replacing them with centres run by businessmen and exporters. Until now, however, the cocoa procurement price has been fixed by the government. But this part of government control too is set to be lifted by the end of 1999. With the step, Cote d'Ivoire's cocoa liberalisation programme will have been completed.
Local farmers say they are already feeling the pinch of liberalisation.
Before liberalisation there were no such complaints about poor quality beans. Farmers say they can only gain from the liberalisation if the government sets aside an export quota for farmers. That will fetch them the international market prices for the proportion of their cocoa beans that will be set aside for export. Siriki Sangarean, an exporter, agrees with the farmers. The state of affairs is leading many cocoa farmers to contemplate shifting to other crops.