With Rising Costs Tied to Stricter International Standards Like the EUDR, Cameroon Calls for Better Compensation for Coffee Farmers – CoffeeTalk

Cameroon has urged improved compensation for coffee farmers to cover the rising costs associated with stricter sustainability and traceability standards demanded by international markets. Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana emphasized this point during the 142nd session of the International Coffee Council in Geneva, held from September 28 to 30, 2026. He conveyed to stakeholders in the coffee industry that the transition toward a more sustainable coffee market must enhance the economic well-being of producers.

Farmers are currently facing significant additional investments and compliance costs as global requirements for environmental sustainability tighten. Magloire Atangana insists that financial remuneration for farmers should align with these increased costs, ensuring they can sustain production levels and invest in their farms. He raised concerns that the escalating standards risk acting as non-tariff barriers, which could limit producers’ access to the global market.

Cameroon is particularly keen on rejuvenating its coffee sector, buoyed by positive metrics from the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), which reported a 10% rise in marketed coffee production for the 2024/2025 season, reaching 11,637 tons, up from 10,592 tons the previous year. Correspondingly, farmgate prices for both Arabica and robusta varieties have seen a substantial increase, with Arabica prices jumping from CFAF 2,375 to CFAF 2,854 per kilogram and robusta prices rising from CFAF 1,500 to CFAF 1,959.

Additionally, Arabica coffee exports surged notably, with Cameroon exporting 824 tons in 2025, valued at CFAF 3.37 billion, compared to just 308 tons worth CFAF 846 million in 2024. However, the sector remains vulnerable to fluctuations in global coffee prices, as evidenced by a 17.6% drop in export earnings in the first quarter of 2026 to CFAF 4.1 billion, down from CFAF 5 billion in the same period in 2025.

In light of these challenges, Mbarga Atangana has called for enhanced support for producers to adapt to new international standards, urging international partners and industry stakeholders to ensure that sustainability measures do not pose excessive obstacles to market access. He highlighted the need for robust public-private partnerships and increased collaboration to facilitate compliance, traceability, and adaptation efforts within coffee-producing nations. This discussion is critical for Cameroon as its coffee exports heavily rely on a small number of foreign markets, with data indicating that the European Union absorbed approximately 60% of Cameroon’s coffee exports in 2025, while North Africa accounted for about 31.7%.

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