A few days before the opening of the 2021-2022 coffee-cocoa agricultural campaign, the planters gathered within the Agricultural Union of Individual Producers and Cooperatives of Côte d'Ivoire (Sapicoci) decided on the price of cocoa. They plead for a guaranteed farm gate price of 2021-2022 at 900 CFA francs per kilogram.

In a statement dated Thursday, September 23, 2021, the president of SAPICOCI, Yao Kouamé Joseph set out the expectations of cocoa producers. “Before the new prices of our products are made public, it is important that we farmers share some concerns with our leaders,” he said at the start. Thus, failing to have the 2020 jackpot, SAPICOCI pleads for the fixing of a guaranteed farm gate price for 2021-2022 at 900 CFA francs per kilogram of cocoa. Moreover, this year, SAPICOCI wants everything to be done to ensure that the fixed farm gate price is scrupulously respected. Because, despite the efforts of the Coffee-Cocoa Council, the fixed farm gate price was not respected during the past campaign by crooked buyers taking advantage of certain difficulties at the level of the producers that we are. “Due to limited means, not all cooperatives can obtain certification. Also, to prevent the cocoa from being blocked at the port, some intermediaries take the opportunity to gouge the producers. These punctures on the fixed price have discouraged many producers who have kept their production in their hands,” said Yao Kouamé Joseph. Furthermore, he commends the government's efforts to meet all its commitments and the enormous challenges.