Summary:

• Global cocoa prices surge due to dry weather in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Ugandan cocoa farmer Mutanga Grace reports 30% of cocoa beans stolen, leading farmers to hire armed guards.

Global cocoa prices have surged to their highest levels in over ten years due to dry weather affecting farming in Ghana and Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producers. According to Mutanga Grace, CEO of Mkulima Exports Uganda and a Ugandan cocoa farmer, approximately 30% of cocoa beans in Uganda are being pilfered.

Grace explained to BBC Newsday that farmers are resorting to employing armed guards and dogs to safeguard their cocoa, a crucial ingredient in popular products such as chocolate, ice cream, and cakes. He likened the current cocoa situation in Uganda to a high-demand commodity, stating, “Cocoa in the country right now is like a hotcake, someone takes a little, but it translates to a significant loss of revenue.”