(Business in Cameroon) - Between 2014 and 2018, the volume of yearly cocoa production in Cameroon rose from 281,000 tons to 336,000. This is revealed by the ministry of agriculture in the report of the implementation of the rural sector’s development strategy.

According to the ministry, this rise is due to the restoration of old orchards, the increase in crop areas and projects in the framework of the ministry’s coffee-cocoa sectors’ relaunch strategy.

Despite this increase, the ministry writes, “the target of 600,000 tons by 2020 will probably not be met.” 

 This statement is not much of a surprise. In 2018, the Inter Patronal Groupings of Cameroon published a report on the impact of the Anglophone crisis on national economy. The report reveals that the SouthWest has lost its place as the nation’s leading cocoa producing region. According to the grouping, this region’s cocoa sales dropped from 45.45% to 32% during the 2017-2018 campaign, representing a decrease by 43,000 tons. The monetary loss is estimated at XAF56 billion of export revenues.

For the 2018-2019 campaign, based on the critical security environment, the grouping forecasted between 60,000 tons and 100,000 tons of losses.

Sylvain Andzongo