Why is the trade of cocoa beans unfair?
When terms of trade don’t work for cocoa farmers it exacerbates poverty and contributes to persistent problems like discrimination, exploitation and deforestation, which threaten the future of cocoa farming communities and the future of cocoa itself.
What were the problem faced in cocoa production?
Deforestation and loss of biodiversity In many countries, cocoa production is threatened by aging plantations, poor farm management, soil degradation and increasing pest and disease pressure. To increase production and meet demand, cocoa producers often rely on the clearing of additional forest land.
Are cocoa beans illegal?
Growing cocoa is not illegal, but growing it in a national forest reserve is.
Why cocoa is bad for the environment?
Deforestation. Cocoa farming also contributes to rainforest and old growth forest deforestation. By clearing land in these forests, farmers decrease the biodiversity and interactions between the many different organisms that naturally live in the area.
How much do cocoa beans sell for?
Between 2016 and 2019, the monthly price of cocoa worldwide peaked in mid-2016 at about 3,122 U.S. dollars per metric ton and has since declined to around 2,134 U.S. dollars per metric ton as of October 2018.
How much do cocoa farmers get paid?
The average cocoa farm will produce one or two tonnes of cocoa beans a year; one tonne is 16 sacks of cocoa. The average farmer will make between $1,400-$2,000 profit a year, at most about $5 a day, which will need to support 6-10 dependants.
Which two countries produce the most cocoa beans in the world?
The Ivory Coast and Ghana are by far the two largest producers of cocoa, accounting for more than 50 percent of the world´s cocoa. In 2016, the Ivory Coast alone produced approximately 1.6 million metric tons of cocoa beans.
How much does a ton of cocoa beans cost?
Monthly cocoa price worldwide 2016-2020 Between 2016 and 2019, the monthly price of cocoa worldwide peaked in mid-2016 at about 3,122 U.S. dollars per metric ton and has since declined to around 2,134 U.S. dollars per metric ton as of October 2018.
Is growing cocoa beans profitable?
Despite cocoa being a lucrative – and growing – industry, many cocoa producers live in poverty. Unfortunately this means most cocoa farmers see only a fraction of the total income earned from cocoa beans and the resulting products. That’s one reason LWR works to support smallholder cocoa farmers.
Which country produces the best cocoa beans?
Ecuador
Best cocoa production in the world But not all cocoas are the same. There are them of greater or lesser quality; suitable for making derivatives or ideal for the most demanding palates. Currently, Ecuador is the country where the highest quality cocoa is found.
