(Business in Cameroon) - The 2012-2013 cocoa season is definitely on track after the opening ceremony presided over by the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana in Mbanga in the Littoral region on 1st September 2012. All stakeholders of the Cameroonian cocoa sector are strongly mobilized to improve the Cameroon brand in order to meet the new demands of the world cocoa economy which now lays emphasis on consumer protection. The results of the past season show a slight drop in production-207,697 tons, against 218,871 tons in 2010-2012.

However, many experts, say that this decline in production was due to a dry season which was longer than expected and which prevented the normal flowering of the plants. Similarly, there were many attacks by pests such as the bugs and caterpillars during the same period. These also contributed to a decline in production in some production belts.

Despite this drop in production, government authorities, National Cocoa Coffee Board (NCCB), Cocoa and Coffee Inter-professional Board (CICC), Cocoa and Coffee Development Fund (FODECC) and seven other projects are optimistic about next season.

Despite the fact that other major producing countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Indonesia, have cultivated almost all their arable land and even grow cocoa on old plantations, Cameroon’s production potential is ever intact. The country has large areas of unexploited arable land within the seven production belts. Moreover, it has a highly conducive climate for the cultivation of this crop.

In addition, with the introduction in recent years of high-yielding varieties, some of which will begin production this year, there is no need to worry especially as efforts have been made to protect the crop against parasites. Furthermore, the Support Project for the Use of Fertilizers in the Cocoa and Coffee Sectors (PAUEF2C) has ordered more than 800 tons of fertilizer to be distributed to farmers’ organizations.

In recent years, emphasis has been placed on the training and sensitization of farmers, who are now better equipped with modern production methods to ensure better yields that may fluctuate around 1,000 tons per hectare.

These new opportunities, combined with the gradual increase in production would guarantee a bright future for Cameroonian cocoa. Cameroon’s objective is to produce 600,000 tons of cocoa by 2020.

J.V.