Question

Which country is the leading producer of cocoa in the world?

Answer 1

Hint: Three types of cocoa are produced in this country; viz, Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario. The history of cocoa cultivation in the country dates back to 2000 years. It is an indegenous crop of the Amazon Basin and the tropical areas of South and Central America.

Complete answer: Option A: Cocoa is one of the leading agricultural and cash crop of Nigeria. A major part of the Nigerian economy stands upon the export of cocoa. Nigeria is currently the world’s fourth largest producer of cocoa and third largest exporter of the same. Thus, Nigeria is not the leading producer of cocoa.
Option B: Cocoa is the main agricultural cash crop as well as the export crop of Ghana. It is the largest largest producer of cocoa in the world and also the second largest exporter of the same. West Africa collectively supplies two-thirds of the world’s cocoa crop. It produces 883,652 metric tons of cocoa, making it the leading producer among Nigeria, Liberia and Mali.
Option C: Cocoa is one of the main cash crops of Liberia. It produces about 10,000 metric tons of cocoa beans a year,but that just sums up to 0.2% of world production. Thus, with the small number in production, Liberia is not the leading producer of cocoa.
Option D: Mali is a producer of cocoa beans, its production is not so magnificent that it can account in the leading producers list. Therefore, Mali is not the correct answer.

Thus, option B, Ghana, is the correct answer.

Note: Cocoa is produced in the country’s forested areas like Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western regions and Volta. The government has shifted responsibility for crop transport to the private sector. Although most of the cocoa cultivation is done by peasant farmers on plots less than three hectares, a small number of farmers seem to dominate the trade.