Faced with the tensions that were shaking the locality of M'Batto, Koné Brahima Yves, the Director General of the Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC), took the initiative on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. His objective: to calm tempers and guarantee the smooth running of the intermediate marketing campaign, despite the discontent of producers linked to unpaid bills from the main campaign.

Gathered at the M'Batto youth center alongside the prefect of the Moronou region, Dongo Kobenan, the actors in the sector and the heads of cooperatives were able to express their grievances.

The crux of the problem: The backlash from the 2,800 FCFA

The heart of the crisis lies not in the current mid-crop season, but in the remnants of the previous one. Ehouman Eby Augustino, spokesperson for the producers, clarified the situation:

"The 1,200 francs from the intermediate campaign don't really pose a problem. It's mainly the receipts issued during the main campaign at 2,800 francs that create the difficulties."

Many growers claim that they have still not received the money from their sales of the main campaign, based on the record price of 2,800 FCFA per kilogram.

A global market in freefall

The Director General of the CCC said he understood the producers' dismay at this sharp drop in the purchase price, which fell from 2,800 FCFA to 1,200 FCFA between the two harvests. He noted that this decline is a direct consequence of the collapse in international prices, which plummeted from over 4,000 FCFA to nearly 1,600 FCFA in just five months.

Koné Brahima Yves also highlighted the State's efforts: the current price of 1,200 FCFA is largely subsidized. Without government intervention, the actual market price would not have exceeded 900 FCFA per kilogram.

The emergency measures announced

To definitively resolve the crisis of unpaid bills, the head of the Coffee and Cocoa Council announced firm actions:

1. Mandatory registration: All producers with unpaid receipts of 2,800 FCFA are invited to register immediately.
2. Pressure on intermediaries: The CCC is committed to ensuring that operators respect their commitments. "We will force cooperative societies to pay them," Koné Brahima Yves insisted.
3. Audits of deliveries: Strict checks will be carried out on the usual stocks as well as on the special operation to remove 100,000 tonnes of cocoa carried out by the CCC.

Focus on modernization

In conclusion, the director general called for calm and restraint to avoid disrupting the local economy. He also reminded everyone of a crucial deadline: the producer card will become mandatory on September 1, 2026. Growers are therefore strongly encouraged to register in order to obtain one.

For his part, the regional prefect, Dongo Kobenan, was keen to refocus the role of the institution, recalling that the Coffee-Cocoa Council is not a direct buyer, and that its special operations are only aimed at facilitating the market and relieving producers in times of crisis.