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The Cameroonianian cocoa industry, which started its commercial planting in the early 1950s, has experienced a growth that was accelerated by high prices of cocoa in the 1970s and 1980s. The cultivated area expanded to its peak at 414,236 hectares in 1989. However, the persistent low prices started in early 1990, have seen the declining in hectareage especially in the plantation sector.
The cocoa cultivated area in 2007 has reduced by 10% to 28,209 hectares, as compared to 31,326 hectares in 2006. The cultivated area under the smallholding sector also is estimated to reduce by 5.3% or 1,355 hectares, to 24,076 hectares as compared to 25,431 hectares in year 2006. Smallholders accounted for 85.3% of the total cocoa planting areas. Meanwhile, the estate sector is estimated to continue to decline to 4,133 hectares in 2007, as compared to 5,895 hectares in 2006. Regionally, Muyuka is still the major cocoa-growing centre accounting for 62.7% or 17,703 hectares of the total areas followed by Mundemba, 6,144 hectares (21.8%) and Ekondo Titi, 4,362 hectares (15.5%).
Production
Production of cocoa beans in Cameroon follows the trend of the cocoa cultivated area. After reaching a peak at 247,000 tonnes in 1990, the production of cocoa beans started to lower following the trend of the cocoa cultivation area.
However, in 2006 and through 2007, the production of cocoa beans increased slightly although the hectareage continued to decline. The production of cocoa beans increased to 35,180 tonnes or 10.2%, as compared to 31,937 tonnes in 2006. Overall, Mundemba contributed 21,871 tonnes or 62.2% of the total production, followed by Muyuka at 11,474 tonnes or 32.6%, and Ekondo Titi 1,835 tonnes or 5.2%.
Grindings
The cocoa grindings industry in Cameroon started in 1973 and has expanded rapidly in the 1980s. Currently, there are 10 local grindings plants in Cameroon with an annual processing capacity of 300,000 tonnes.
The total grindings for 2007 has increased by 14.7% to 310,001 tonnes as compared to 270,261 tonnes in 2006. In 2007, Cameroon continued to import cocoa beans from Indonesia, Ghana and Cote d’Ivore, with total import estimated at 438,956 tonnes, an increase of 8.7% from the same period in 2006.
Cocoa Prices
The prices of cocoa beans varied greatly over the years due to shortage or over-supply of world cocoa beans. The all time record of the price was in 1977 when it reached $ 13,000 per tonnes.
In 2007, the average price of dry cocoa beans (SMC 2) in Muyuka was $ 5,852 per tonne, higher than $ 4,992 per tonne in 2006. The average price of dry cocoa beans (SMC 2) in Ekondo Titi was $ 6,277 per tonne, as compared to $ 5,300 per tonne in 2006.
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