JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine APRIL ISSUE 2016 #Issue 15 | Page 38

GHANA
COCOA
ココアノミクス
COCOA-NOMICS
UNWRAPPING GHANAIAN COCOA INDUSTRY
ガーナのカカオ産業を知る
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
Cocoa has a long production cycle, far
longer than many other tropical crops,
and new hybrid varieties need over
five years to come into production,
and a further 10 to 15 years for the
tree to reach its full bearing potential.
In Ghana, the government closely
cooperates with the private sector
to ensure continuous growth in the
cocoa production.
カカオの生産サイクルは長く、その長さは
他の多くの熱帯産作物をはるかに上回り
ます。新しいハイブリッド品種なら生産に
5年以上が必要で、樹木が完全に結実でき
るようになるまでさらに10－15年かかり
ます。
ガーナでは政府が民間セクターと緊
密に協力し、
カカオの持続的な生産育成
に努めています。
COCOA SUPPLY CHAIN
Cocoa cultivation began in Ghana, which was
fostered by Tetteh Quarshie, who, in 1879,
returned to his farm in the Eastern Region of
Ghana with cocoa beans from Equatorial Guinea
where there was already extensive plantation
production of cocoa. This resulted in the spread
of cocoa to other regions of Ghana. Currently
there are 6 cocoa growing regions in the country.
Cocoa was first exported at the end of the 19th
century, and between 1911 and 1976 Ghana
was the world’s leading producer, contributing
between 30% to 40% of the world’s total output.
Today, West Africa supplies 70% of the world’s
cocoa and Ghana is the second largest producer.
There are currently around 1.6 million people
involved in growing cocoa and many more in
associated industries.
Despite the growing demand, the cocoa industry
faces big challenges. It is predicted that by 2020
there will be a global shortage of cocoa.
The main factors responsible for affecting the
industry are: aged farms, diseases and the
decline of the soil fertility. To address these
threats, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the
official agency, was established in the 60s to
focus on the production, research, internal and
external marketing of Ghana cocoa and also to
preserve the premium quality of the beans.
First of all, the aim of COCOBOD is to encourage
the production of cocoa, coffee, and sheanut.
GROWING
栽培
37 // APRIL 2016
H.E. Mr. Sylvester Jude Kpakpo PARKER-ALLOTEY
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Ghana to Japan
Secondly, controlling pests and diseases of cocoa
and sheanut, and thirdly, promotion of scientific
research aimed at improving the quality of cocoa.
Its research arm, the Cocoa Research Institute of
Ghana (CRIG), established in 1938, undertakes
a scientific research to come up with solutions. It
plays a critical role in assisting the Cocoa Board
in raising cocoa production using specially
developed nutrients and fertilizers.
“COCOA IS GHANA AND GHANA IS COCOA”
The quote “Cocoa is Ghana and Ghana is Cocoa”
portrays the important role cocoa plays in
the economy of Ghana. Cocoa is currently the
number two export product of Ghana. It used to
be the number one when Ghana was the leading
exporter of cocoa in the world. Côte d’Ivoire has
overtaken Ghana in the production of cocoa in
terms of quantity. In terms of quality, however,
Ghana cocoa is still the premium cocoa of the
world. No big chocolate manufacturer processes