By J. Mason Kollie | Lofa County
Cocoa farmers in lower Lofa County, particularly in Massabolahun Town, Kailahun, and surrounding villages, are raising alarm over a sharp decline in the price of dried cocoa beans. Once valued at LD$500–600 per kilo, the commodity is now being purchased for as little as LD$250, leaving farmers frustrated and vulnerable.
Local producers attribute the sudden price collapse to rampant smuggling across porous borders into Sierra Leone and Guinea. Farmers say foreign buyers are flooding Liberian communities, purchasing cocoa cheaply and reselling it at significant profit in their home countries.
“Just a few days ago, the price dropped from LD$500 to LD$250,” lamented farmer Salia Kamara of Massabolahun. “We are losing out while smugglers reap the benefits.”
The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has set the official price of cocoa at USD$5.00 (LD$850) per kilo, citing the need to secure high-grade beans. Yet farmers complain that LACRA’s buyers are largely absent from rural communities, forcing them to sell to smugglers who purchase indiscriminately.
“Those buying at LD$250 don’t care about grade A, B, or C—they take everything and smuggle it across the border,” explained farmer Mohammed Kanneh. “Meanwhile, LACRA says it is buying at a good price, but we never see their agents in our towns.”
Local journalist Solomon Fomba echoed the frustration, noting that farmers only hear LACRA’s announcements on radio but cannot identify actual buying points. “We blame LACRA because they are not visible. Smugglers are the ones present every day,” he said.
Responding to mounting criticism, LACRA’s Lofa County Coordinator, Augustine K. Argbah, confirmed that investigations are underway to identify those involved in smuggling. Acting Director General Dan Saryee recently toured the county, holding meetings with local authorities, joint security forces, and farmers.
Saryee acknowledged that porous borders and informal entry points are fueling the illicit trade. He urged security agencies to intensify patrols and pledged LACRA’s collaboration with other government bodies to curb smuggling.
Development Superintendent Francis Egu Lansana welcomed LACRA’s intervention and promised county-level support. However, members of the joint security argued that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. They stressed that farmers will continue selling across borders unless exporters are present in Liberia to purchase cocoa at the stipulated price.
Farmers and local buyers also urged LACRA to strengthen cooperatives through the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), enabling producers to negotiate better deals and resist exploitation by smugglers.
Cocoa, a vital cash crop used in producing chocolate, cocoa butter, and other products, remains central to rural livelihoods in Lofa County. Yet without stronger regulation, transparent buying mechanisms, and visible market presence, farmers warn that Liberia risks losing its competitive edge to neighboring countries.
For now, the collapse in prices has left many producers uncertain about the future of their harvests—and skeptical of promises that the trade will be brought under control.
