ReviewStatus, supply chain and processing of cocoa - A review

- The global demand for the cocoa is increasing and may increase up to 30% by 2020.
- 5 to 6 million farmers get their income from cocoa cultivation.
- Cocoa butter contains about 99.9% fat with palmitic (26%), oleic (34.5%) and stearic acid (34%).
- Annually 3.5 million tonnes of cocoa are produced.
- Fair-trade may be solution for farmers to earn good income.

BackgroundCocoa the food of the Gods, has served the mankind from several decades. The consumption of the cocoa based products is increasing day by day. In fact, the high polyphenol content of cocoa, coupled with its widespread presence in many food items, render this food of particular interest from the nutritional and health viewpoints. The income of around 40 to 50 million people depend on cocoa farming, contributing an annual cocoa production worldwide at 4.2 million tons valued at $11.8 billion and growing at a rate of 3% per year from past decade.Scope and approachIn this review the global status, market scenario and processing of the cocoa into different products has been outlined which may be helpful for the concerned communities. As per the reports the market for cocoa is growing at the rate of 18-20% in India and at 3% globally. The SWOT analysis has been carried out to identify the global strength, opportunities and threats.Key findings and conclusionGlobal demand for cocoa is increasing, as the world continues its insatiable appetite for chocolate products. Silent stakeholders are likely to be future targets of NGO campaigns and consumer scrutiny. Managed well through MSIs critics could enable the silent stakeholders to be encouraged into collaboration. Demand for cocoa is predicted to rise by 30% by 2020 but without empowering and investing in small-scale farmers, the industry will struggle to provide sufficient supply. Cocoa prices are volatile and influenced by many factors - from extreme weather, pests and disease to speculation and political instability in producing countries. Even as cocoa prices rise, farmers have not been capturing their fair share. Fair-trade can be part of a solution, helping to ensure decent incomes for farmers and a long-term supply of quality product to companies.