Douala, Cameroon Africa. December 2010  (Cameroon News)  -  Prices of cocoa are on a rise due to enhanced quality.

Cocoa farmgate prices have been showing a steady rise in Cameroon since last month as the ideal weather conditions has resulted in enhancing bean quality, farmers and traders said on Wednesday.

“This has so far been a particularly good season for us cocoa farmers. We’ve had very good weather characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, and very isolated cases of the blackpod disease quickly dealt with,” said Emmanuel NnogoAkolo from Emana.

cocoa beans from cocoa tree in cameroon africa

Cameroon is the world’s fifth largest cocoa grower, with the season for the next year starting from August. ”There are plenty of good quality beans on the market today because the rainy season has ended and there is plenty of sunshine improving drying conditions,” said manager of main exporter Cameroon Marketing Commodities (CAMACO) Joseph Nde.

He was however apprehensive of the pathetic conditions of the roads which made it extremely tedous for farmers to transport the beans to the port. Cameroon sold close to 197,000 tonnes of cocoa beans in 2009/10, which is comparatively lower than the 205,000 tonnes which they had sole in 2008/09, but the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Board (CCIB) forecasts that there will be a relative increase in output for 2010/11 getting to around 200,000 tonnes.