<p>Two of the world's largest cocoa producers have accused Hershey's and Mars of avoiding paying a bonus that helps boost poor farmers' incomes, and have cancelled sustainability schemes run by the confectionary giants.</p>.<p>West African nations Ghana and Ivory Coast account for two-thirds of global cocoa production, but there have been long-running tensions with US multinationals over pricing.</p>.<p>The Coffee Cocoa Council (CCC) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) on Monday accused Mars and Hershey's -- two of the world's top chocolate sellers -- of not paying the so-called living income differential (LID).</p>.<p>The LID gives a bonus of $400 per tonne of cocoa in addition to the market price and is intended to better remunerate cocoa farmers, many of whom live in poverty.</p>.<p>But a reported large purchase of cocoa by Hershey's on the US futures market recently "clearly indicates your intention to avoid paying the living differential income", the CCC and Cocobod said in a joint letter.</p>.<p>As a result, the producers said they had "been left with no choice but to cancel all sustainability programmes with which your company is involved".</p>.<p>The schemes certify that the chocolate is ethically produced -- allowing firms to sell it at higher prices. Production must avoid deforestation and be free of child labour.</p>.<p>In a separate statement, the CCC and Cocobod accused Mars of modifying its cocoa butter procurement processes to avoid paying the LID.</p>.<p>The CCC and Cocobord denounced Hershey's and Mars' "breach of confidence" in the scheme designed to help millions of African farmers.</p>.<p>In a statement to AFP, Hershey's said it was "unfortunate" that the countries had decided to "distribute a misleading statement this morning and jeopardise such critical programmes that directly benefit cocoa farmers".</p>.<p>Mars Wrigley denied that it had avoided paying the LID, and said it had long supported the initiative.</p>
<p>Two of the world's largest cocoa producers have accused Hershey's and Mars of avoiding paying a bonus that helps boost poor farmers' incomes, and have cancelled sustainability schemes run by the confectionary giants.</p>.<p>West African nations Ghana and Ivory Coast account for two-thirds of global cocoa production, but there have been long-running tensions with US multinationals over pricing.</p>.<p>The Coffee Cocoa Council (CCC) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) on Monday accused Mars and Hershey's -- two of the world's top chocolate sellers -- of not paying the so-called living income differential (LID).</p>.<p>The LID gives a bonus of $400 per tonne of cocoa in addition to the market price and is intended to better remunerate cocoa farmers, many of whom live in poverty.</p>.<p>But a reported large purchase of cocoa by Hershey's on the US futures market recently "clearly indicates your intention to avoid paying the living differential income", the CCC and Cocobod said in a joint letter.</p>.<p>As a result, the producers said they had "been left with no choice but to cancel all sustainability programmes with which your company is involved".</p>.<p>The schemes certify that the chocolate is ethically produced -- allowing firms to sell it at higher prices. Production must avoid deforestation and be free of child labour.</p>.<p>In a separate statement, the CCC and Cocobod accused Mars of modifying its cocoa butter procurement processes to avoid paying the LID.</p>.<p>The CCC and Cocobord denounced Hershey's and Mars' "breach of confidence" in the scheme designed to help millions of African farmers.</p>.<p>In a statement to AFP, Hershey's said it was "unfortunate" that the countries had decided to "distribute a misleading statement this morning and jeopardise such critical programmes that directly benefit cocoa farmers".</p>.<p>Mars Wrigley denied that it had avoided paying the LID, and said it had long supported the initiative.</p>