Cocoa Prices Skyrocket: What’s Behind the Surge, and How Does It Affect Us?

2. Climate Change: A Silent Culprit

Unpredictable weather patterns are wreaking havoc on cocoa plantations. Droughts, caused by phenomena like El Niño, reduce water availability for crops, while heavy rains can lead to floods and soil erosion. Cocoa trees, which thrive in stable tropical climates, struggle to adapt to these rapid changes, leaving farmers with reduced yields.

The effects of climate change go beyond damaged crops. Rising temperatures shorten the optimal growing seasons, pushing cocoa cultivation to higher altitudes, often encroaching on protected forests. Cocoa requires a delicate balance of heat and humidity, but erratic weather disrupts flowering and fruiting cycles. Farmers report that what used to be predictable seasonal rainfall is now irregular, leading to confusion in planting and harvesting schedules. The long-term impacts may force the industry to adapt by shifting plantations to entirely new regions, a costly and complex process.