Cocoa is a cash crop grown throughout the humid tropics with about 6.5 million hectares planted with the crop in 57 countries. Although cocoa has been cultivated for centuries in Central America, it is a relative newcomer to Africa, and even more recent in Asia. In 1998, world production reached 2.7 million tons of cocoa beans. Africa holds a dominant position with almost 70% of production volumes, 40% coming from the Cote d Ivoire. Ghana (15%) and Indonesia (12%) are two other important producers. The average yield is approximately 400 kg of beans/ha/year.
