Cameroon’s Cocoa Production Expected to Rise by Over 10,000 Tons in 2024
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Loading... - Ashanti Quaye
- 07 Oct 2024
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Cameroon's cocoa production is projected to experience a modest increase in the 2024-2025 season, with forecasts from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) estimating a total output of 276,900 tons. This marks an increase of 8,000 to just over 10,000 tons compared to the previous season's figures. The BEAC's estimate is based on a production figure of 268,800 tons, slightly higher than the 266,725 tons reported by Cameroon’s National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC).
Despite this anticipated growth, Cameroon remains significantly short of the ambitious targets outlined in its cocoa-coffee sector recovery plan. Launched in 2014, this plan aimed to boost national cocoa production to 600,000 tons by 2020 and increase local processing to 50% of the cocoa beans, equivalent to around 300,000 tons. However, these goals have proven challenging to achieve.
National production has hovered around 300,000 tons in recent seasons, and efforts to enhance local processing have been hampered by various obstacles. Many processing units established to add value to the cocoa sector are not operating at full capacity, primarily due to the limited availability of cocoa beans. This shortfall in local processing capabilities highlights a significant bottleneck in the sector's value chain.
The stagnation in reaching production and processing targets underscores the need for continued investment and strategic interventions to enhance productivity and processing capacity. Addressing these challenges could help Cameroon capitalize on its cocoa industry, boosting economic growth and creating more value within the country. As the nation strives to meet its long-term objectives, stakeholders will need to focus on improving agricultural practices, infrastructure, and market access to drive sustainable growth in the cocoa sector.
