(Business in Cameroon) - Since the farm gate price per kilogram of cocoa dropped below FCfa 1,000 in Cameroon, during the first quarter of 2017, producers have been increasingly anxious, as they have been used to more profitable prices, which often reached up to FCfa 1,500 per kilogram.

Based on the statistics compiled by the Sector Information System (système d’information des filières – SIF), which published average prices offered in production areas throughout the country on a daily basis, one kilogram of cocoa has been sold for FCfa 900 to 960 for the past three months.

A situation which experts put down to the downward trend in prices noted on the international market for several months now.

From the authorities side, this decline in cocoa prices is a source of concern, especially as it could discourage producers and undermine the production ambitions set for 2020, with projections at 600,000 tons against approximately 250,000 tons currently.

BRM