(Business in Cameroon) - At the close of the 2013-2014 cocoa season, which officially ended on July 15, Cameroon had sold 209,905 tonnes, according to the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC). Subtracting the 3,355 tonnes from the previous season’s stock, Cameroonian cocoa farms technically only produced 206,550 tonnes in the last season, compared to 1.4 million tonnes from Côte d’Ivoire, the world leader.

According to these figures, national cocoa production has therefore declined by around 9% compared to the 228,910 tonnes officially produced in the 2012-2013 season. For at least the last four seasons, despite various actions undertaken by the CICC and the Cameroonian government authorities (the re-launch plan for the sector), to increase production to 600,000 tonnes by 2020.

Producers assert that, behind this stagnation in cocoa production, despite more and more attractive purchasing prices (between 900 and 1,275 FCFA in the last season, according to the ONCC) one will find climate change, which has been adding to the structural problems such as aging farms and farmers, difficult access to quality plants, the absence of mechanisation and an inadequate grasp of modern farming techniques.