Introduction:-

Cocoa, an important commercial crop of the equatorial region, is extensively planted in areas bordering the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa which include the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Dahomey. In Ghana, the cocoa or chocolate tree was introduced about 90 years ago. Today, Ghana is an important producer of cocoa in the world. It accounts for about 11 percent of the world’s total. The cocoa plantations of Ghana are vast. 

The word "cocoa" is derivative of "cacao". Cocoa trees grow in hot, rainy tropical areas. Cocoa harvest occurs over several months .Immature cocoa pods have a variety of colors but most often are green, red, or purple, and as

they mature their colour tends towards yellow or orange. Unlike most fruiting trees, the cacao pod grows directly from the trunk or large branch of a tree rather than from the end of a branch. A cocoa pod has a rough leathery rind about 3 cm thick.

Cocoa Processing

Cocoa trees are vulnerable to pests and diseases that can seriously affect the crop, or even wipe it out entirely.

Black Pod disease is caused by a fungus that attacks the pods, causing brown patches that

gradually cover the surface, before spreading to the inside of the fruit.

Witches' Broom is also caused by a fungus. This fungus attacks trees that will no longer produce proper pods, and shoots grow to look like "witches' brooms”.

Products manufactured From Cocoa

These products are made from premium Ghana Cocoa Beans. The beans are sorted, roasted, winnowed and milled to produce cocoa liquor. Cocoa liquor is pressed to release the butter and leave a residue of cocoa cake with 10-12% butter. The cocoa cake is kibbled and sold as kibbled cake or milled and sold as cocoa powder.

Cocoa Liquor:-This is the first commercial product obtained in the processing of cocoa beans but contrary to its name, does not contain any alcohol.

Cocoa Butter:-Cocoa Butter has a clear pale yellow colour and is produced to meet stringent quality specifications that ensure that make it the product of choice by discerning chocolatiers.

Cocoa Cake:-Cocoa cake is available as natural or alkalized cake.

Cocoa Powder:-Milled to a fineness of …, Cocoa Powder is available in natural and alkalized forms.

Chocolate Couverture;-Chocolate Couverture comes in two varieties, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Usually in 25kg blocks or 100g bars packed 250 in a carton (for easy melting)

Conclusion

Ghana is the world’s largest producer of cocoa. The cocoa is exported to many countries. It is exported to Britain, Switzerland, Denmark, France and Spain for making chocolate. Cocoa has its demand only in developed countries which enjoy high standard living. After exportation it is manufactured into By-products like cocoa powder, cocoa butter etc.

References

1. www.wikipedia.org 2. www.kish.in 3. www.cocoabod.in 4. www.mofep.gov.in 5. www.scn.org 6.