COCOA-PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

Archaeological studies have found that Ecuador could be home to the oldest cocoa industry , with cocoa beans produced 5,000 years ago . The cocoa bean quality is considered by many experts to be the best in the world and until the 20th century , Ecuador was the leading producer of cocoa beans . Although it has been surpassed by other Latin and West African countries , it still produces an impressive 128,446 yearly tonnes of cocoa , according to World Atlas . All considered , Anecocoa ( Ecuador ’ s national association of cocoa exporters ) reports that Ecuadorian cocoa beans only compromise 5 % of the world total .

According to Andina , a Peruvian newspaper , the main cocoaproduction areas , which make up 96 % of Peru ’ s national output , are in San Martin , Cusco , Junin , Ucayali , Juanuco , Ayacucho , and Amazones . In 2015 , according to the same source , Peru saw a rise in cocoa production by 13.7 % to 95,000 tonnes . It then broke both record production and record hectares of cocoa-plantations the following year with 108,000 tonnes of cocoa , and 129,842ha . According to Confectionary News , 90 % of Peruvian cocoa is exported . Andina places the benefit of the cocoa industry as producing 9.9mn workdays , for 90,000 families directly , and 480,000 people indirectly .

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