Cocoa production in Africa: To 5 dominating countries in Africa
Most of the world’s cocoa is grown in West Africa, accounting for more than two-thirds of the total. Côte d’Ivoire is now in the first place, a significant distance ahead of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Togo.
The number one producer and exporter of cocoa is the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire. Cocoa production and coffee production were substantially responsible for the significant economic growth that the nation saw in the 1970s, and cocoa production is still considered one of the country’s most important industries. By alone, Côte d’Ivoire produced more than 2 million tons of cocoa in 2021, which was more than the combined output of the following four producing nations combined.
Cocoa, which accounts for 40 percent of the country’s export profits and 15 percent of the national GDP, is not only the focal point of many associations’ attention but also the economic engine that drives the nation. In concern is the practice of using children as slave labor on plantations and cutting down forests for the purpose of creating illicit exploitation.
This over-reliance on cocoa is dangerous not only for the economy of Côte d’Ivoire, which is already too reliant on it but also for the variety of its agricultural land, which is coming under growing threat as a result of this dependency.
Côte d’Ivoire is followed by many other nations in West Africa, the most important of which is Ghana, which produces 1 million tons annually, followed by Nigeria, Togo, and Cameroon, who together produce little over 1.5 million tons annually. Indonesia is the only country to break into the top 5 in the globe.
Cocoa is the West African region’s primary export and economic driver.
Cocoa beans are grown in tropical regions near the equator, specifically in locations with climates that are ideal for the cultivation of cocoa plants. These regions are known as “cocoa belts.” Cocoa plantations were first established in the Caribbean by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 16th century. Cocoa is said to have originated in South America. They established the very first African plantations in order to more readily satisfy the robust demand coming from Europe.
Even though there are a considerable number of big plantations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, cocoa is still produced by small farmers in Nigeria, Togo, and Cameroon.
Uganda, which is now in second place on the list, is making tremendous advancements due to its bet on a high-end cocoa industry. This sector has a high percentage of organic cocoa and complies with international norms of sustainable development. A plan that may satisfy the ever-increasing demand coming from European nations, the residents of which are becoming more interested in the production of commonplace consumer items.
