copal cocoa info - alliance of cocoa producing …. 476.doc · web view2488.66 1601.33 2466.67 27th...

INSIDE THIS ISSE: ICCO DAILY COCOA PRICES LONDON (LIFFE) FUTURES

MARKET UPDATE NEW YORK (ICE) FUTURES

MARKET UPDATE FROM THE NEWS MEDIA TIT BITS

o Midway workshop on Swollen-shoot,Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, 21st – 24th February, 2012.

o Meeting of the International Organizing Committee for the 17th International Cocoa Research Conference, Yaounde, Cameroon, 24th April to 3rd May 2012.

COPAL COCOACOPAL COCOA InfoInfo

A Weekly Newsletter of Cocoa Producers' Alliance

Health and Nutrition Cocoa could prevent intestinal pathologies such as

colon cancer How cocoa flavanols benefit our body

Production and Quality National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme takes

off Stakeholders map out plans to grow Nigeria’s

cocoa

The Market Cameroon Cocoa Farmgate price advances 0.3% in

week Ailing cocoa exporter to focus on Asia to counter

falling sales Cocoa Exporter Davomas sees 2011 Revenue

slump

Agriterra spells out ambitious plans for Sierra Leone cocoa growth

Labour Issues

Environmental Issue Ivorian cocoa output lags as weather bites

Research & Development

Promotion & Consumption

Others Ghana says about 23% of cocoa tree stocks

unproductive

Do your health a favour, drink Cocoa everyday

‘It’s nature’s miracle food’UP-COMING EVENTSUP-COMING EVENTS IN THISIN THIS

Issue No. 476 23rd – 27th January 2012

Processing & Manufacturing

Business & Economy Govt to boost forex with cocoa production

Pests threaten Cameroon cocoa mid-crop

In the News (from Newspapers worldwide)

ICCO Daily Cocoa PricesICCO Daily Price

(SDR/tonne)ICCO Daily price

($US/tonne)London futures

(£/tonne)New York futures

($US/tonne)

23rd January 1502.93 2314.66 1497.67 2300.00

24th January 1597.48 2458.78 1596.33 2431.67

25th January 1606.15 2466.95 1600.33 2446.67

26th January 1609.59 2488.66 1601.33 2466.67

27th January 1581.15 2446.25 1575.00 2421.33

Average 1579.00 2435.00 1574.00 2413.00

COCOA PRODUCERS’ ALLIANCE, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE, P.O. BOX 1718, LAGOS, NIGERIA. TEL: +234(0)1-263-5574 FAX: +234(0)1-263-5684

Email: [email protected] Website: www.copal-cpa.org2

mailto:[email protected]

International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE)London Futures Market – Summary of Trading Activities

(£ per tone)

Monday 23rd January 2012

Month Opening Trans Settle ChangeDaily High

Daily Low Volume

Mar 2012 1494 1483 -6 1500 1473 5,822May 2012 1506 1497 -5 1513S 1487S 1,740Jul 2012 1520 1513 -4 1528S 1503 1,251Sep 2012 1537 1527 -3 1538 1521S 253Dec 2012 1545 1537 -4 1548S 1527S 287Mar 2013 1541 1543 -3 1551S 1540S 24May 2013 1546 1551 0 1559S 1545S 139Jul 2013 1561 1559 4 1566 1554S 159Sep 2013 1564 4 0Dec 2013 1569 4 0

Average/Totals 1534 9,675

Tuesday 24th January 2012

Month Opening Trans Settle ChangeDaily High

Daily Low Volume

Mar 2012 1493 1584 101 1587 1477 11,872May 2012 1507 1595 98 1597S 1491S 2,800Jul 2012 1521 1610 97 1611 1506S 1,872Sep 2012 1532 1623 96 1625S 1520S 826Dec 2012 1544 1631 94 1634S 1530S 1,059Mar 2013 1552 1640 97 1630 1540 186May 2013 1550 1646 95 1623S 1550 91Jul 2013 1561 1653 94 1640 1561S 41Sep 2013 1601 1657 93 1601S 1594S 41Dec 2013 1662 93 0


Wednesday 25th January 2012 Month Opening Trans Settle Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 1588 1589 5 1612 1571 9,540May 2012 1599 1599 4 1621S 1584S 3,341Jul 2012 1614 1613 3 1633S 1596S 2,897Sep 2012 1625 1626 3 1645 1609S 902Dec 2012 1633 1634 3 1653S 1619S 302Mar 2013 1660 1644 4 1660S 1644 45May 2013 1650 4 0Jul 2013 1657 4 0Sep 2013 1661 4 0Dec 2013 1666 4 0




http://www.nybot.com/reports/dmrs/etsDMRs/dmrFutures.asp?dmrMonth=04&dmrDay=11&dmrYear=2007&commodityID=1&commodityType=future






Thursday 26th January 2012 Month Opening Trans Settle Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 1596 1591 2 1608S 1578 4,820May 2012 1602 1599 0 1614S 1588S 2,926Jul 2012 1615 1614 1 1627 1601 2,299Sep 2012 1628 1625 -1 1640 1621 866Dec 2012 1635 1634 0 1648S 1628S 762Mar 2013 1643 1644 0 1654S 1635 198May 2013 1660 1650 0 1660S 1649 21Jul 2013 1655 1658 1 1655 1655 5Sep 2013 1655 -6 0Dec 2013 1655 -11 0


Friday 27th January 2012 Month Opening Trans Settle Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 1603 1563 -28 1607 1543 5,959May 2012 1612 1575 -24 1612S 1555S 3,307Jul 2012 1626 1587 -27 1627S 1572S 1,385Sep 2012 1633 1599 -26 1635S 1585S 629Dec 2012 1641 1607 -27 1643 1598S 692Mar 2013 1652 1617 -27 1655S 1612S 108May 2013 1659 1625 -25 1659S 1614S 177Jul 2013 1668 1633 -25 1668S 1650S 22Sep 2013 1655 1637 -18 1655S 1655S 21Dec 2013 1655 0 0


Average for the week 1610 2236 2236











New York Board of Trade(New York Futures Market – Summary of Trading Activities)

(US$ per tone)

Monday 23rd January 2012 Month Open Price Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 2263 2269 10 2297 2244 8,804May 2012 2282 2291 11 2319 2266 2,257Jul 2012 2302 2311 9 2337 2297 994Sep 2012 2320 2331 11 2344 2320 294Dec 2012 2340 2353 14 2366 2340 599Mar 2013 2350 2374 15 2377 2350 289May 2013 2379 2387 14 2379 2379 1Jul 2013 2401 2399 12 2411 2388 119Sep 2013 0 2408 11 0 0 1Dec 2013 0 2428 11 0 0 0

Average/Totals 2355 13358

Tuesday 24th January 2012 Month Open Price Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 2269 2413 144 2425 2257 22,339May 2012 2300 2434 143 2448 2280 4,976Jul 2012 2328 2454 143 2465 2301 1,245Sep 2012 2333 2473 142 2483 2321 241Dec 2012 2358 2493 140 2503 2341 479Mar 2013 2363 2511 137 2520 2359 195May 2013 2389 2525 138 2527 2387 25Jul 2013 2404 2537 138 2539 2402 115Sep 2013 2419 2543 135 2552 2418 57Dec 2013 0 2563 135 0 0 0


Wednesday 25th January 2012 Month Open Price Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 2410 2422 9 2456 2389 15,618May 2012 2430 2447 13 2481 2422 6,058Jul 2012 2456 2470 16 2501 2446 1,788Sep 2012 2490 2486 13 2519 2458 490Dec 2012 2489 2505 12 2520 2479 395Mar 2013 2531 2522 11 2555 2501 169May 2013 2541 2534 9 2561 2509 67Jul 2013 2558 2539 2 2570 2526 24Sep 2013 0 2545 2 0 0 5Dec 2013 0 2565 2 0 0 0











Thursday 26th January 2012 Month Open Price Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 2428 2452 30 2474 2427 10,374May 2012 2467 2473 26 2495 2450 3,180Jul 2012 2489 2494 24 2515 2478 797Sep 2012 2506 2514 28 2530 2497 500Dec 2012 2525 2535 30 2550 2517 464Mar 2013 2540 2552 30 2565 2532 215May 2013 2552 2563 29 2557 2552 30Jul 2013 0 2570 31 0 0 3Sep 2013 0 2576 31 0 0 1Dec 2013 0 2589 24 0 0 0


Friday 27th January 2012 Month Open Price Change High Low Volume

Mar 2012 2452 2406 -46 2480 2361 13,120May 2012 2468 2431 -42 2499 2388 6,216Jul 2012 2509 2457 -37 2519 2415 4,323Sep 2012 2531 2474 -40 2533 2435 775Dec 2012 2547 2492 -43 2555 2450 636Mar 2013 2532 2511 -41 2571 2490 246May 2013 2508 2525 -38 2525 2508 81Jul 2013 0 2532 -38 0 0 0Sep 2013 0 2540 -36 0 0 0Dec 2013 0 2561 -28 0 0 0


Average for the week 2493 4618 4618











News

Cocoa could prevent intestinal pathologies such as colon cancerMedical XpressJanuary 24, 2012

Cocoa is an excellent source of phytochemical compounds that have potential health benefits. Credit: Anjuli Ayer

A new study on living animals has shown for the first time that eating cocoa (the raw material in chocolate) can help to prevent intestinal complaints linked to oxidative stress, including colon carcinogenesis onset caused by chemical substances.

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The growing interest amongst the scientific community to identify those foods capable of preventing diseases has now categorized cocoa as a 'superfood'. It has been recognised as an excellent source of phytochemical compounds, which offer potential health benefits.

Headed by scientists from the Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN) and recently published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal, the new study supports this idea and upholds that cacao consumption helps to prevent intestinal complaints linked to oxidative stress, such as the onset of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis.

"Being exposed to different poisons in the diet like toxins, mutagens and procarcinogens, the intestinal mucus is very susceptible to pathologies," explains María Ángeles Martín Arribas, lead author of the study and researcher at ICTAN. She adds that "foods like cocoa, which is rich in polyphenols, seems to play an important role in protecting against disease."

The study on live animals (rats) has for the first time confirmed the potential protection effect that flavonoids in cocoa have against colon cancer onset. For eight weeks the authors of the study fed the rats with a cocoa-rich (12%) diet and carcinogenesis was induced.

A cocoa-rich diet prevents the formation of aberrant crypt foci in the colon (marked with an arrow) induced by pro-carcinogen azoxymethane. Credit: ICTAN

Possible protection



NEWS

Health and Nutrition


Doctor Martín Arribas outlines that "four weeks after being administered with the chemical compound azoxymethane (AOM), intestinal mucus from premalignant neoplastic lesions appeared. These lesions are called 'aberrant crypt foci' and are considered to be good markers of colon cancer pathogenesis."

The results of the study showed that the rats fed a cocoa-rich diet had a significantly reduced number of aberrant crypts in the colon induced by the carcinogen. Likewise, this sample saw an improvement in their endogenous antioxidant defences and a decrease in the markers of oxidative damage induced by the toxic compound in this cell.

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The researchers conclude that the protection effect of cocoa can stop cell-signalling pathways involved in cell proliferation and, therefore, subsequent neoplasty and tumour formation. Lastly, the animals fed with the cocoa-rich diet showed an increase in apoptosis or programmed cell death as a chemoprevention mechanism against the development of the carcinogenesis.

Although more research is required to determine what bioactive compounds in cocoa are responsible for such effects, the authors conclude that a cocoa-rich diet seems capable of reducing induced oxidative stress. It could also have protection properties in the initial stages of colon cancer as it reduces premalignant neoplastic lesion formation.

A not-so-guilty pleasure

Cocoa is one of the ingredients in chocolate. It is one of the richest foods in phenolic compounds, mainly in flavonoids like procyanidins, catechins and epicatechins, which have numerous beneficial biological activities in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer (mainly colorectal cancer).

In fact, compared to other foods with a high flavonoid content, cocoa has a high level of procyanidins with limited bioavailability. These flavonoids are therefore found in their highest concentrations in the intestine where they neutralise many oxidants.

More information: ldefonso Rodríguez-Ramiro, Sonia Ramos, Elvira López-Oliva, Angel Agis-Torres, Miren Gómez-Juaristi, Raquel Mateos, Laura Bravo, Luis Goya, María Ángeles Martín. "Cocoa-rich diet prevents azoxymethane-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions in rats by restraining oxidative stress and cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 55:1895-1899, diciembre de 2011. DOI 10.1002/mnfr.201100363 Provided by FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

How cocoa flavanols benefit our bodyZee News26 Jan 2012Washington: Researchers have come up with new analytical techniques to boost understanding of flavanol absorption and metabolism and provide basis for significant in vitro studies to gauge exactly how these compounds work in the body.

Increasing scientific evidence indicates that (-)-epicatechin, the main flavanol in cocoa, can have a positive impact on the circulatory and cardiovascular systems.

Absorption and metabolism, however, play a key role in determining the exact effect food constituents and nutrients such as (-)-epicatechin have in the body.

Following absorption, nutrients are metabolized – transforming them into new compounds that are different from those originally present in food. As metabolic transformation has a significant impact on how nutrients support healthy functions, investigating this process is critical to furthering our understanding of exactly how cocoa flavanols are linked to health benefits.

While the metabolism of flavanols has been established in previous studies, the development and validation of improved analytical methods in this research enabled a far more detailed assessment than previously possible.




As a result, this study by an international team of scientists from Mars, Incorporated, the University of California, Davis (US) and the University of Reading (UK), was able to clearly and reliably demonstrate the extensive metabolism of (-)-epicatechin following consumption of a flavanol-containing cocoa drink.

As in vitro studies using un-metabolized cocoa flavanols do not take this metabolism into account, they are not able to accurately reflect what is happening in the body.

For example, early findings looking at flavanols in a test tube suggested that they exerted their benefits through an antioxidant mechanism. However, this latest research adds to a growing body of evidence challenging this notion and indicating that – when examined in the body – flavanols’ cardiovascular benefits are in fact independent of any antioxidant properties.

“By significantly advancing our understanding of the absorption and metabolism of cocoa flavanols, this research helps to address existing disagreement in this area and sets a new standard in flavanol analytics that will improve the scientific tools available,” said Dr. Hagen Schroeter – study author and director of fundamental health and nutrition research at Mars, Incorporated.

“Furthermore, this work again calls into question the validity of in vitro research that does not take into account the extensive metabolism of compounds like (-)-epicatechin.

“The study provides a critical step towards a more complete understanding of flavanols and their benefits and, ultimately, towards the translation of this knowledge into innovative flavanol-rich food products and concrete health recommendations,” added Dr. Schroeter.

National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme takes off Ghana24 January 2012 The National Cocoa Rehabilitation programme by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has taken off. The programme which started in the second quarter of 2011 seeks to increase and sustain cocoa production in Ghana through rehabilitation and replacement of old and diseased cocoa trees with improved hybrid varieties. It has been observed that about 23% of cocoa tree stocks nationwide are above 30 years and thus unproductive. Also most farms are heavily infested with mistletoes and diseases thereby reducing the potential yields of cocoa in those farms.

The programme is therefore intended to ensure sustainability of cocoa production and also augment the income of farmers through increased yields in the short to medium term, provide jobs for, especially the youth in cocoa growing communities and encourage them to take to cocoa cultivation.

This initiative ties in with the announcement by Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Finance & Economic Planning, in the 2012 budget statement to Parliament that, Government had allocated funds for the supply of 20 million hybrid cocoa seedlings free of charge to farmers in 2012.

The Scheme is being implemented under two main components: Revival of moribund cocoa stock or unproductive farms/abandoned cocoa farm lands and replanting with approved high and early yielding hybrid variety. Removal and replanting of diseased cocoa farms with hybrid cocoa variety

Activities of the scheme will cover six years and shall involve the following:o Cutting out unproductive cocoa trees (farms) using chainsaw machines and applying aboricides and replanting with hybrid cocoa variety.o Assisting farmers with technical support to raise part of their seedlings requirement through the establishment of community nurseries.o Establishing temporary and permanent shade and applying fertilizers/manure to enhance growth and maturity.



Production & Quality


o Control of parasitic plants-mistletoes, nationwide.o Filling of vacancies in the established farms.

In view of the above, we are informing all farmers interested in the rehabilitation programme to pick up forms from district offices of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit (CSSVD-CU) of COCOBOD for registration.

We wish to make it clear to all, especially farmers, that establishment of new cocoa farms in forest reserves is strictly not part of the rehabilitation programme.

Stakeholders map out plans to grow Nigeria’s cocoaVanguardBy Jimoh BabatundeJanuary 23, 2012 · In FinanceDr. Peter Aikpokpodion is a plant breeder with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, an expert in cocoa and the leader of the cocoa transformation team. Recently, he took time out to explain plans for the growth of cocoa in the country as the team met with chief executives of some organisations in the cocoa industry recently. Excerpt.

Why is this Transformation Agenda coming at this time?

As part of the government’s transformation agenda in the Agricultural sector, you know that Cocoa is one of the key areas which government is really focusing on at this time. You know that cocoa is so important to the economy of Nigeria.

As I speak today, cocoa is the single largest non-oil foreign exchange earner for Nigeria, which means apart from petroleum, which of course makes the bulk of our source of revenue, cocoa is the next single commodity.

So that shows how important cocoa is to our economy and even before the oil boom, for the southern part of the country, the South-West in particular, cocoa is the mainstream of the Nigerian economy.

For quite some time, agriculture has been neglected and the cocoa industry also by extension, has suffered from that neglect. But at this time, government is already putting a lot of focus on cocoa in order to bring back the glory of cocoa, to enhance income generation/foreign exchange earnings through agriculture.

And also I can tell you that Nigeria used to account for 18 per cent of world cocoa but now, we are only down to just seven per cent, whereas a country like Cote d’Ivoire, that was nowhere, is still accounting for one-third of world cocoa.

Ghana, through the effort of its government, has also risen to accounting for almost 20 per cent of world cocoa but Nigeria is down to just seven per cent.

So we need transformation and that is why at this time, the minister has made it part of his priority programme to bring back cocoa and increase the country’s market share, earn foreign exchange and create about 390,000 jobs.

When is the initiative starting?

Well, the initiative has started, people are working to make sure the right things are done and people are mobilised so that we can channel our resources and intervention to the right places.

We actually have a target for this year that by the end of the harvest season, around October-December, we should be able to start to see the result, to increase production of cocoa in Nigeria.

What number of farmers are you reaching out to?




As much as possible, we want to see how this programme can touch as many cocoa farmers as we have. But the Federal Government will be working with the state and local governments and the private sector because this is a public-private partnership which we are using here to target the farmers.

While cocoa is produced in the southern part of Nigeria, we are putting our target towards South-West, South- East, South-South and some areas in the North-Central part of the country would also be included with the aim of reaching out to hundreds of thousands of cocoa farmers.

In naira and kobo, what will this cost the Federal Government?

I cannot tell you precisely, my Minister will be able to give the figure.

Sir, will this not be another programme that may not see the light of the day?

From the very outset, the farmers are put at the centre stage in this initiative. Like the programme of the government in terms of enhancing support, whatever support the government is giving is to put it directly into the hands of the farmers. There is one thing we call e-register for the registration of the farmer, the location of the farm and other necessary things.

Cameroon Cocoa Farmgate price advances 0.3% in weekBloomberg By Pius Lukong Jan 25, 2012 Cameroon’s average national farmgate cocoa price rose 0.3 percent to 942 CFA francs ($1.86) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) in the week to Jan. 24, according to the Cameroon National Association of Cocoa and Coffee Producers.

The following is a table of regional farmgate rates, with prices per kilogram in CFA francs.

Southwest-Kumba 950-Mamfe 940South 935Center 950Littoral 950Average 945

Ailing cocoa exporter to focus on Asia to counter falling salesThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta | 01/28/2012 Cocoa butter and powder firm PT Davomas Abadi says it is diversifying into Asian markets to counter declining sales in Europe and the US. “Last December, we tried to sell to China. The amount was insignificant. We are also studying the potential market in Japan and Korea,” Davomas corporate secretary Hasiem Wily said during his company’s public disclosure on Friday.

Despite the initial Chinese deals, Hasiem said that Davomas was “clueless” about the Asian market interest for cocoa products. Hasiem said that the Asian cocoa-product market was different from its European and American peers. For example, he said, China used cocoa products in its pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, while Western countries were making chocolate or biscuits.

Cocoa powder prices have topped US$4,000 a ton, outperforming cocoa butter at $3,500 a tons, according to Hasiem. “We see an increasing trend in cocoa powder prices, but a decline in cocoa butter,” he said.

Davomas has a total capacity to produce 140,000 tons of cocoa powder and butter a year.



The Market


However, Hasiem said that the company’s utilization only reached 40 percent of its total capacity. “It is because of declining demands from Europe, which is suffering from a crisis. We will be okay if our utilization reaches 60 to 70 percent,” Hasiem said.

Declining demand in the first nine months of 2011 saw sales drop to Rp 729.44 billion ($80 million), down 63.81 percent from Rp 1.94 trillion in the same period in 2010. The dip led Davomas to a Rp 56.41 billion operating loss between January and September of 2011 from a Rp 59.84 billion operating profit in the same period of 2010.

Davomas recorded net losses of Rp 122.14 billion in the first nine months of 2011, also down from Rp 108.39 billion in the same period of 2010.

Hasiem said that the company estimated sales of Rp 1.3 trillion in 2011, declining by 23.85 percent from Rp 1.61 trillion in 2010. “We see gloomy business in 2012. This year, our performance will likely to be similar to 2011. We see no significant development,” Hasiem said.

He played down talk that Davomas would change its core business to boost income. “We will stay with our business. We have intentions to look for strategic partners. However, we have no serious discussions with any particular parties,” Hasiem said.

Hasiem said that the company’s plans to buy a 51.86 percent stake in cocoa processor PT Uniflora Prima, according to documents submitted to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2011, were since dropped. “The deal was called off, although Uniflora said that it was just delayed. If Uniflora wants to build partnership with us again, it has to start from the beginning.” (rcf)

Cocoa Exporter Davomas sees 2011 Revenue slumpJakarta GlobeBy Indah Handayani | January 27, 2012Revenue at Davomas Abadi, an Indonesian exporter of cocoa butter and cocoa powder, fell by almost 19 percent last year on slowing demand from Europe and the United States, its main overseas markets, a company official said on Friday.

Revenue at the Jakarta-based company fell to Rp 1.3 trillion ($146 million) from Rp 1.6 trillion in 2010 as the euro debt crisis and a slowing US economy crimped demand, said Hasiem Wily, head of investor relations.

Wily said the company struggled with sluggish global demand last year, and its production utilization was only about 40 percent, with total production of 140,000 tons. “We are still struggling this year and that is forcing us to shift to Asian markets,’’ Wily said. He declined to provide profit figures.

Wily said the company was working on plans to diversify its exports markets, including to Japan, China and South Korea. “We did a test on China’s market in December last year,’’ he said. He did not provide details.

The company has booked losses every year from 2008-10. It posted a net loss of Rp 510.65 billion in 2008, narrowing to Rp 226.76 billion in 2009 and Rp 26.49 billion in 2010. It is scheduled to report last year’s figures next month.

Shares of Davomas closed unchanged at Rp 50 on Friday on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

A separate report from the national cocoa producers group on Friday showed that Indonesia’s cocoa shipments were forecast to rise to 250,000 tons this year from 200,000 tons in 2011, while production is forecast to climb to 550,000 tons from 450,000 tons.

Dakhri Sanusi, secretary general of the Indonesian Cocoa Association, said Europe’s debt crisis and the global economic slowdown would not significantly affect the country’s production and export markets.

Indonesia is the third-biggest producer of cocoa in the world, after Ivory Coast and Ghana. The country suffered a bad harvest in 2011 due to bad weather and the outbreak of a fungal disease.




Govt to boost forex with cocoa productionThe NationBy Daniel Essiet 27/01/2012 The Federal Government is to increase cocoa production to boost foreign exchange (forex) and create employment.

The Cocoa Transformation Team Leader, Dr Peter Aikpokpodion, said in Abuja that Nigeria used to contribute 18 per cent of world cocoa production before it dropped to seven per cent. He said countries like Cote d'Ivoire hitherto unknown in cocoa production, now provides one-third of the world’s cocoa, while Ghana has increased its contribution to almost 20 per cent.

Aikpokpodion said the nation needed to increase local production to enhance its share in the global market. According to him, cocoa is the single largest non-oil foreign exchange earner beside oil. The neglect of the agric sector, he noted, has affected the cocoa industry. For this reason, he called on the government to focus more attention on the commodity to improve income generation.

Chairman, Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Robinson Riman, said cocoa is the second highest foreign exchange earner after oil. To improve the situation,Riman said his association was working to increase cocoa purchases by foreign buyers. He called on the government to promote public-private sector partnership in cocoa production to help the nation to compete favourably with others in West Africa.

On challenges, he noted that there are many aged cocoa farmers and there is the need to provide incentives to encourage youths to take over from them.

Country Manager, Solidaridad in Nigeria, Alex Akin, said one of the objectives of his organisation was to alleviate poverty by increasing the income of farmers. This, he said, is by introducing ways to improve their livelihood and general working conditions.

He called for professionalism in the agric sector. “The farmers can get certified by undergoing training on the processes involved. At the end of the day, it is very beneficial, which means additional income for the workers which they can use to improve themselves and their communities. There is a premium and, besides, the farmers will become professionals in managing their farms.”

He said the capacity of the farmers needed to be enhanced in terms upgrade in modern agricultural practices. “All these are will be taken care with training, with international standards emphasised. The standards for the farmers are ready. The essence of this is to bring efficiency into the system. At the end, cocoa production will increase.” He said his organisation was investing in developing and expanding farmer training to support the cocoa sector.

Also, last year, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) unveiled a $13.5 million initiative to support the African cocoa sector.

The new African Cocoa Initiative (WCF/ACI) will invest in sustainable cocoa programmes in West Africa.

Agriterra spells out ambitious plans for Sierra Leone cocoa growthSierra Express Media - 25 Jan 2012By Proactive Investors United KingdomJanuary 25, 2012.



Business & Economy

Processing & Manufacturing


Negotiations are already underway to secure a 15-acre site in the new airport development zone close to the capital Freetown, while advanced discussions are also taking place to acquire a cocoa plantation in the south-east of the country.

Food producer Agriterra this morning said it plans to expand its Sierra Leone cocoa trading business Tropical Farms Limited to 40 locations this year from 12 currently as part of an aggressive growth strategy.

As part of the strategy, TFL will also extend its focus into coffee and palm oil.

Negotiations are already underway to secure a 15-acre site in the new airport development zone close to the capital Freetown, while advanced discussions are also taking place to acquire a cocoa plantation in the south-east of the country.

The group is well financed to roll out its ambitious plans after raising US$15 million last year from investors at 3 pence a share.Today’s announcement underlines the commitment to diversify its agricultural operations, which is currently focused on the production and processing of maize in Mozambique, and rearing cattle.

Agriterra wants to be a “field to fork” operator across a number of sectors but focused on Africa, so cocoa, coffee and palm oil fit that bill. It has also made a bold and decisive move into logistics by signing a concession agreement to run and develop the port of Conakry in Guinea.

The 30 hectare site is a gateway for all sorts of exports from palm oil, cocoa, rice and livestock, through to industrial commodities such as iron ore and bauxite.

Chief executive Andrew Groves said today: “Our cocoa buying and trading operation in Sierra Leone, TFL, is rapidly advancing its aggressive growth strategy to become a leading in-country trader of sustainable and traceable cocoa by the end of the year. “

“In line with this, it is focussed on building its direct buying register, securing a major new 15-acre management facility and acquiring a large cocoa plantation. Having done the leg work and built its foundation and reputation, it is also looking to expand its commodity reach to include coffee and palm oil.

“TFL’s exciting business model provides a third revenue stream for Agriterra and complements our other agricultural businesses, which comprise maize farming and milling, the cattle ranching business which has reached 2,900-head, feedlot facilities and soon to be finished abattoir services and palm oil.”

Ivorian cocoa output lags as weather bitesReuters AfricaBy Ange AboaJan 23, 2012

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast cocoa output is running about 8 percent below last year with weekly arrivals slowing down sharply, exporters estimated on Monday, after months of dry and windy weather that hampered growing operations.

Arrivals of cocoa at Ivory Coast's two ports, the best indication of output from the world's top grower, hit around 788,000 tonnes by January 22 since the start of the season in October, exporters estimated, compared with 855,980 tonnes in the same period of the



Labour Issues

Environmental Issue


previous season. "The gap is widening more and more compared to last year, and we now think the main crop will finish well below our predictions," said the director of a European export firm based in Abidjan, asking not to be named.

Farmers have complained that a lack of rain on the plantations since November has reduced the development of small pods and flowers on cocoa trees, a sure sign of falling production in the weeks ahead.

Exporters estimated that around 25,000 tonnes of beans were delivered to the West African state's two ports between January 16 and January 22, versus 62,208 tonnes in the same week a year ago. Exporters issue a weekly consensus estimate based on the numbers of truckloads counted arriving to ports.

The latest official arrivals data from regulator BCC showed 738,462 tonnes reaching ports by January 8, compared with 736,696 tonnes in the same period the previous year.

Ivory Coast produced a record over 1.5 million tonnes of cocoa in the 2010-11 season thanks to ideal weather and despite a civil war that erupted after a disputed election.

Ghana says about 23% of cocoa tree stocks unproductiveGhana Business NewsBy Ekow QuandzieJanuary 24, 2012

About 23% of the country’s cocoa tree stocks have been observed to be unproductive, according to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The cocoa trees spread across the nation are said to be over 30 years.

“It has been observed that about 23% of cocoa tree stocks nationwide are above 30 years and thus unproductive,” said the COCOBOD.

In addition to this observation, most farms are also “heavily infested with mistletoes and diseases thereby reducing the potential yields of

cocoa in those farms,” the cocoa regulator noted.

Making cocoa production sustainable

The COCOBOD has embarked on a project known as the National Cocoa Rehabilitation programme.

According to the Board in a press release January 23, 2012, and copied to ghanabusinessnews.com, the programme seeks to increase and sustain cocoa production in Ghana through rehabilitation and replacement of old and diseased cocoa trees with improved hybrid varieties.

Activities of the scheme which will cover six years, the COCOBOD says “shall involve the cutting out of unproductive cocoa trees (farms) using chainsaw machines and applying aboricides and replanting with hybrid cocoa variety; assisting farmers with technical support to raise part of their seedlings requirement through the establishment of community nurseries; establishing temporary and permanent shade and applying fertilizers/manure to enhance growth and maturity.”



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It will also involve the control of parasitic plants-mistletoes nationwide and the filling of vacancies in the established farms, it stated.

The outfit has informed all farmers interested in the rehabilitation programme to pick up forms from district offices of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit (CSSVD-CU) of COCOBOD for registration stating clearly that “that establishment of new cocoa farms in forest reserves is strictly not part of the rehabilitation programme.”

The government announced in the 2012 budget statement to Parliament that it had allocated funds for the supply of 20 million hybrid cocoa seedlings free of charge to farmers in 2012. Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer in the world.

Pests threaten Cameroon cocoa mid-cropReuters AfricaBy Tansa MusaJan 27, 2012

YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Cameroon's cocoa mid-crop harvest is at risk to an outbreak of capsid bugs in the centre and caterpillars in the south-west, according to field reports from two regions that make up 80 percent of output.

Capsids are insects which attack trees, feed on the young branches and cause crop loss. They are most active when the young branches shoot out

and spread during the dry weather afflicting the cocoa crop across West Africa.

Cameroon is the world's fifth largest grower. Production hit a record of 240,000 tonnes in 2010/11 with the Cocoa Development Company (SODECAO) expecting it to rise to 250,000 tonnes in 2011/12. However exports have been lagging in the season so far.

"We've so far had three months of persistent hard sunshine and dusty weather not good for cocoa plants which have been attacked by capsids," said local farmers' union president Emmanuel Nnogo Akolo from Emana, 70 km (40 miles) north of the capital Yaounde.

"Many members of our union have come to complain to me that their trees have lost or are losing leaves and dying because of the harmful effects of the insects, an indication that output will surely drop."

He said cocoa farmers had been told to use insecticides at least two times between August and December to prevent capsid attacks, but the practice had in some cases been neglected because they have not had the disease for the past five years.

Speaking to Reuters from main regional cocoa trading town Bafia, 135 km north of Yaounde, farmer Emmanuel Nguile said some 500 trees on his 60-ha farm were hit. "For the first time during my 25 years of growing cocoa, we had to dig deep to obtain water because all streams near the farm have dried up," said Nguile, who is also vice-president of the 55,000-member National Organisation of the Cocoa and Coffee Producers in Cameroon (ONPCCC).

Nguile feared overall output this year could fall 20-25 percent. Exports to end-December were already down 11 percent on the year so far, with the dry spell cited as one possible factor for the drop.

Andre Marie Lema, chief of operations of the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Board (CCIB), confirmed reports that caterpillars were eating off the leaves of cocoa trees at Konye in the other main growing South-West Region.

Bau Makia Ndedi, president of Konye Area Farmers Cooperative Union (KONAFCOOP), said 30 percent of the farms in the locality 30 km north of the regional trading centre Kumba, had been hit. "We just discovered two weeks ago that a large number of caterpillars had invaded our farms, eating up the leaves on cocoa trees," he said, adding the government had interevened with emergency funds to buy more pesticides.




Cocoa is a leading cash crop in Cameroon, generating close to 300 billion CFA francs in 2010/11. The season normally runs from August 1 to July 31, with the main crop harvest from October up to February and the mid-crop harvest from April to July. There have been variations in recent years due to changes in the climate.




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