Rising Cocoa Price: Can Uganda Do More Than Export Raw Beans?
Rising Cocoa Price: Can Uganda Do More Than Export Raw Beans? Alternative Title Suggestion: Soaring Cocoa Prices: How Uganda Can Turn Raw Beans into Golden Opportunities and Chocolate Riches Picture the lush, green hills of Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, where farmers carefully harvest cocoa pods, their hands stained with the promise of chocolate. These beans are more than a crop—they’re a potential goldmine for Uganda, especially as cocoa prices have soared in recent years. Yet, for too long, the country has exported raw beans, reaping only a fraction of the profits that come from processing and branding. With cocoa prices reaching historic highs before stabilizing in 2025, the question is urgent: Can Uganda seize this moment to move beyond raw exports and unlock greater economic rewards? As of August 2025, cocoa prices stand at approximately $8,000 per tonne, down from peaks exceeding $12,000 earlier this year, driven by global supply shortages and climate challenges. 16 ...