By DANIELA NEBA NGUM
Cocoa prices in Cameroon’s chief-producing regions are down by over 18%. Prices ranged between FCFA 690 and FCFA705 per kilogram of cocoa beans in The South West region this week. That was down by 18.7% from last week’s FCFA800/kg to FCFA915/kg.
Farmgate prices have fallen for nearly a month, having been boosted earlier in 2017 by interest from Nigerian traders. The crossover trade pushed prices as high as FCFA1,400/kg.
Favorable weather has boasted harvests in the South West region, which accounts for over 40% of the country’s production, according to official figures.
A total of 98 cocoa dryers worth FCFA 1.2million each have been handed over to cocoa farmers in Meme Division, SW region under the project for the rehabilitation of cocoa dryers in the Southwest Region.
The ceremony that took place in Small Ekombe saw the handing over of these dryers to the first group of farmers from 17 villages in Meme Division, in a bid to improve the quality of Cameroon cocoa thereby increase the worth.
Speaking during the ceremony the National Coordinator of the rehabilitation project of cocoa dryers in the Southwest and Littoral (Mungo Division) basin of production, Joel Atangana Owona noted that the project is part of the government’s effort to fight against poor cocoa processing that is already reducing the value of Cameroon cocoa in the international market.
The National Coordinator said in order for farmers to effectively use the ovens, they organize capacity building workshops and issue each farmer a booklet that explains how they can use the dryers to effectively dry cocoa.
He assured the farmers of a 10 year warranty but urged them to renovate the dryers incase of any malfunction. He however told the farmers that the dryers are community goods as such they should make sure that it is fully utilized by all villagers since it is the only way to motivate the government. ‘The whole idea is to have the dryers used by the community not an individual.’
Farmers on their part have expressed great joy terming it a timely gesture since it is almost the cocoa season. They noted that the dryers will greatly assist them to follow the recommended procedures of processing cocoa especially during drying.
They further called on the government to provide cocoa dryers to the other communities so that together they can improve the quality of Cameroon cocoa as well as the price tag.