Cameroon doubled its certified cocoa exports

Certified cocoa agriculture in Cameroon has created more and more followers among producers. According to official statistics, roughly 20,000 tons of certified cocoa were exported by Cameroon during the 2015-2016 season, which ended in July.

This production is an increase of 100% compared to the previous season, at the end of which 10,000 tons of certified cocoa were exported from Cameroon, against 5,400 tons only during the 2013-2014 season. Quick calculation, the production of this cocoa following specific requirements determined by consumers, tripled in Cameroon during the last three seasons.

This enthusiasm of producers for certified cocoa is primarily the result of certification programmes implemented for some years now in the country by companies such as AMS, subsidiary of the Dutch company Theobroma; Sic Cacaos, Cameroonian subsidiary of Swiss Barry Callebaut; or Telcar Cocoa, trader of the American firm Cargill and leader in the certified cocoa market in Cameroon.

Then, there are also the important premiums paid to certified cocoa producers, as a reward for the additional effort made by farmers in following crop management sequences and other obligations which are inherent in the production of this cocoa. As an example, over the last three seasons in Cameroon, Telcar Cocoa, on its own, distributed over FCfa 1.5 billion in premiums to certified cocoa producers.