Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s biggest cocoa producer, will launch a cocoa commercialization campaign across the country on Wednesday, its Coffee-Cocoa Council has announced.
“April 1, 2015 is the date for the launch of intermediate cocoa commercialization campaign for the 2014-2015 season,” the council said in a press statement on Monday.
Cote d’Ivoire has two cocoa harvesting seasons, with the main one starting from October to March and the intermediate harvesting season running from April to August each year.
The intermediate campaign is characterized by small cocoa beans that are less rich in fat content and more difficult to roast, hence a depressed yield, the council explained.
“The principle was therefore taken into account while fixing the price of cocoa in the 2014-2015 intermediate campaign,” the council said, adding that “farmers in the country with well fermented and dried cocoa will be paid 850 CFA Francs (about 1.5 U. S dollars) per kilogram.”
The price adopted by the government is 100 CFA Francs higher than the previous intermediate campaign.
During the 2013-2014 farming season, Cote d’Ivoire produced a total of 1.7 million tons of cocoa beans.
The council hailed the “general improvement” of cocoa quality, something it believes will soon have a “positive image” on Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa in the international market. Enditem
Source: Xinhua