West Africa's cocoa harvest faces renewed threats from El Niño and disease, driving prices to record highs. Simon Essah, a Ghanaian farmer, reports black pod disease has scarred his trees, exacerbated by torrential rains that curbed pod development. Processors struggle with supply shortages, forcing strategic shifts in procurement.

The combination of extreme weather and agricultural pests has created a perfect storm for the region's $12 billion industry. Analysts warn that without significant intervention, chocolate prices will remain volatile through the upcoming harvest season. The crisis underscores the vulnerability of West Africa's dominant cocoa production to climate fluctuations.

Major exporters are exploring disease-resistant varieties to mitigate future risks. Local farmers like Essah lack resources to combat the spread of black pod, which blackens and rots fruit. The situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable farming practices to stabilize the global chocolate market.

Rising costs are already impacting confectionery manufacturers worldwide.