ICCC to provide cocoa producers post-harvest treatment centres

Interprofessional Council of Cocoa and Coffee (ICCC) said it will provide cocoa producers, in the Centre and Southwest Region, with a dozen centers of excellence of post-harvest cocoa treatment, according to official sources.

This was disclosed during the 2015-2016 cocoa campaign which was officially launched on August 7, 2015.

The ICCC explained that the units, composed of two fermenters and two dryers, are all installed under sheds constructed with a metal frame. Each of the fermenters will have a capacity of 1050 Kg (three trays of 350 Kg each), against 500 Kg for each dryer. According to our sources, the first Center will be inaugurated in September 2015.

Thanks to this equipment, the Cocoa-Coffee Interprofession counts on an improvement in the quality of cocoa produced in Cameroon especially since these "centres of excellence for post-harvest treatment will produce high trading range, whose fermentation is homogenous and controlled drying cocoa.”

As a reminder, during the last campaign, 97% of the exported beans were of 2nd grade.