**1. Introduction**

184 Genetic Diversity in Plants

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Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria. pp. 39.

Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria. p. 39.

Incorporation, U.K.

Agrisystem Ltd. P. O. Box 2411, Earley, Reading RG65FY, U.K.

The cacao tree, *Theobroma cacao* L., a diploid fruit tree species (2n = 20) is the source of dried cocoa beans used as the main raw material in the manufacture of chocolate, confectioneries and some cosmetics product. Although native to the humid tropical regions of the northern parts of South America and the northern parts of Central America (Bartley 2005; Cheesman 1944; Cuatrecasas 1964, Motamayor 2008), the largest cultivation of cacao, an under-storey forest tree species takes place in West and Central Africa. Originally designated a member of the Sterculiaceae family (Purseglove, 1974), *Theobroma cacao* was recently re-classified into the Malvaceae plant family (Alverson et al., 1999). Since its first introduction in the early 19th century by the Portuguese and the Spaniards, the West and Central African region has become the largest producer accounting for some 70% of the world's cocoa output (Figure 1) of more than 3.632 million metric tons (ICCO, 2010). The main producing countries are Cote d'Ivoire (43 % of global production), Ghana (14 %), Nigeria (6 %) and Cameroon (5 %) followed by Togo, Gabon, Sao Tome, Equatorial Guniea, Sierra Leone, Congo and Liberia. The major market for cocoa beans include The Netherlands, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, China and India.

With the aim of securing the future of the world's cocoa economy, and avoid the situation in the 1930s when, due to limited genetic variability in cacao collections, the swollen shoot virus disease almost destroyed the industry, the genetic structure of cacao collections in West Africa was determined using microsatellite markers.

#### **1.1 Economic importance**

#### **1.1.1 In consuming countries**

The importance of cocoa beans in the running of the multi-billion dollar annual earning chocolate and confectionery industries cannot be over-emphasised. The world grinding of cocoa beans in 2010/2011 season alone was estimated at 3.698 million metric tonnes (ICCO 2010). The world's exports amount to some US\$5–6 billion/year and use of cocoa and cocoa butter in chocolate manufacturing, cosmetics, and other cocoa products drive approximately US\$70 billion market and provides over 60,000 jobs in the US alone (Guiltinan 2007). In an annual list of the top 100 global confectionery companies based on net sales in 2010 alone (Table 1), the top ten chocolate confectionery companies accounted for at least US\$ 67.59 billion (Candy International, 2011). According to the Association of chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) based in Brussels, some 1800 companies with 245,000 direct employees are involved in use of cocoa beans in manufacturing of their products. These industries account for more than 47.8 billion Euros annual turnover, a production of 14.1 million tonnes of products and some 4.1 billion Euros of exports, that is, 10% of the total value of food exports from the European Union. The European chocolate and confectioneries industry which utilizes 50% of the world production of cocoa beans also consume some 30% of the European production of sugar, 35% skimmed milk powder at full EU price as well as a large share of the glucose, butter, wheat, eggs and dried fruit produced in the European Union.

#### **1.1.2 In West and Central African producing countries**

Cocoa production is predominantly a smallholders' enterprise in Africa with several hundred-thousand families depending on this cash crop for their livelihood and significant foreign exchange earnings for producing countries (Rice and Greenberg, 2000, Motamayor et al., 2008). Revenue derived from sale and export of crops such as cocoa provides crucial support to livelihoods of farmers in developing countries in Africa and can be a sustainable means of helping millions of households live above poverty and hunger. In West and Central African countries, domestic economies revolve around subsistence agriculture, especially from the sale of products from cash crops such as cocoa. Even in countries such as Nigeria where most of budgetary revenues come from sale of crude oil, revenue from export of cocoa beans makes significant contribution to the nations' gross domestic product (GDP). The economic growth of many of the Least Developed Countries is closely

Fig. 1. World's cocoa production estimates (in percentages) according to region and countries provided by International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) for 2009/2010 crop year.

US\$70 billion market and provides over 60,000 jobs in the US alone (Guiltinan 2007). In an annual list of the top 100 global confectionery companies based on net sales in 2010 alone (Table 1), the top ten chocolate confectionery companies accounted for at least US\$ 67.59 billion (Candy International, 2011). According to the Association of chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) based in Brussels, some 1800 companies with 245,000 direct employees are involved in use of cocoa beans in manufacturing of their products. These industries account for more than 47.8 billion Euros annual turnover, a production of 14.1 million tonnes of products and some 4.1 billion Euros of exports, that is, 10% of the total value of food exports from the European Union. The European chocolate and confectioneries industry which utilizes 50% of the world production of cocoa beans also consume some 30% of the European production of sugar, 35% skimmed milk powder at full EU price as well as a large share of the glucose, butter, wheat, eggs and dried fruit produced

Cocoa production is predominantly a smallholders' enterprise in Africa with several hundred-thousand families depending on this cash crop for their livelihood and significant foreign exchange earnings for producing countries (Rice and Greenberg, 2000, Motamayor et al., 2008). Revenue derived from sale and export of crops such as cocoa provides crucial support to livelihoods of farmers in developing countries in Africa and can be a sustainable means of helping millions of households live above poverty and hunger. In West and Central African countries, domestic economies revolve around subsistence agriculture, especially from the sale of products from cash crops such as cocoa. Even in countries such as Nigeria where most of budgetary revenues come from sale of crude oil, revenue from export of cocoa beans makes significant contribution to the nations' gross domestic product (GDP). The economic growth of many of the Least Developed Countries is closely

Fig. 1. World's cocoa production estimates (in percentages) according to region and countries provided by International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) for 2009/2010 crop year.

in the European Union.

**1.1.2 In West and Central African producing countries**


Table 1. List of the top ten global confectionery companies that manufacture some form of chocolate by net confectionery sales value in 2010 (Reference: *Candy Industry*, January 2011)

linked with cocoa production, as well as other primary commodities. Many producer countries depend on cocoa exports for a large part of their foreign exchange earnings and government revenue. In Cote d'Ivoire, the largest world producer with more than 1.3 million metric tonnes (mT), cocoa contributes more than 20% of government revenue. When international cocoa prices are low, governments have difficulties meeting debt service obligations and are unable to make much needed investments in basic health, education and infrastructure. In Cote d'Ivoire, more than three of some six million people are engaged in the cocoa sector are small scale farmers. Cocoa alone makes 35 *per cent* of total export estimated at US\$10.25 billion in 2010 and 15 % of the 28.2 % agriculture's contribution to the GDP estimated at US\$22.82 billion in 2010 (http://www.indexmundi.com/cote\_d\_ivoire.html). Together with coffee, cocoa is referred to as the 'Green Gold" because of its immense contribution to the economy. It provides job for 60 % of working population and accounts for some 46 % of total export, more than a third of the nation's GDP (http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=891). In Ghana, the second largest producer with more than 700,000 mT, cocoa is the primary cash crop providing about one-third of all export revenue. With higher commodity prices, gold and cocoa were the two top export revenue earning sectors for Ghana where GDP was estimated at US\$38.24 billion in 2010. Cocoa remains the mainstay of Ghana's economy accounting for 40 % of agricultural exports and 12 % of country's GDP (http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/ghana-economy.html). In 2007 for instance, cocoa contributed 35 % of Ghana's GDP and 60 % of employment in agriculture (Centre for the Studies of African Economies (CSAE), 2009). In spite of commencement of oil production in Ghana, agriculture, especially the cocoa sector would remain the key to rural transformation of the economy. In Nigeria, cocoa provides means of livelihood to more than five million people. Although heavily dependent on oil, agriculture contributes significantly to the economy with about 70 % of the population engaged in agriculture. The cocoa sector accounts for some 27 % of the 41.48 % of GDP attributed to agriculture. Cocoa is the single largest non-oil export earning commodity for Nigeria. In comparison with other agricultural commodities, cocoa makes the largest non-oil contribution to the nation's economic development and accounted for 65% of total agricultural export in 2004 (Aikpokpodion, 2007). In Cameroon, it is estimated that some four million people depend on cocoa and coffee for their livelihood. Most of the cocoa is produced primarily in central southern Cameroon by millions of small scale farmers. In Cameroon, cocoa cultivation is currently one of the major sources of revenues of rural households (1 to 2 millions of people) of the forest agro-ecological zones in the country (South and South-Western parts). Cocoa is grown in more than 200 000 farms and the total cocoa growing surface is estimated to be 400 000 hectares (Efombagn et. al., 2006). In other countries such as Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo, cocoa production makes significant agricultural contribution to the GDP.
