Madagascar's cocoa sector is experiencing strong momentum. Producers are seeing significant income growth, with cocoa prices now ranging from 22,000 to 25,000 ariary per kilogram, up from 10,000 ariary previously. This positive trend is driven by growing international recognition of the quality of Malagasy products. The Voankazomamy cooperative and producer Claudio Mananjara from Ambanja were recently awarded a bronze medal at the international Cacao Excellence Award competition.
The sector gained further visibility at the International Agricultural Fair held last week at CCI Ivato. This key export sector showcased its entire value chain through a major stand operated by the National Cocoa Council (CNC). Producers, cooperatives, artisanal chocolatiers, support organizations, and research institutions like Fofifa were all represented. "Our participation aims to promote the cocoa sector. This collective presence also enables direct connections between producers and processors, opening new market opportunities," explained Grégory Rabeson, executive secretary of the CNC.
Beyond raw beans for export, the CCI Ivato showcase highlighted the importance of developing local processing. Chocolate manufacturing and domestic market sales are showing encouraging growth, with chocolate selling for 90,000 to 100,000 ariary per kilogram, and some chocolatiers processing up to 40 kg daily.
Challenges remain, however. Producers argue that Madagascar's exceptional cocoa quality warrants better compensation. Labeled "100% fine cocoa," the island's beans currently trade at 5 to 6 US dollars on international markets, far below the 10 dollars commanded by some South American origins. This gap fuels producer expectations for fair pricing.