Cocoa Finished Products on Display at Copal's Golden Jubilee

Boncao Moringa, butter and cocoa savon, caramel, tartina... steal show at exhibition village at the courtyard of the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex.

Cocoa stakeholders taking part in the ongoing 75th General Assembly of the Alliance of Cocoa Producing Countries (COPAL), yesterday October 11 had a view and taste of the different products made out of cocoa in Cameroon. This was during the exhibition of the various products made of cocoa in the country as well as ongoing public and private initiatives not only to boost production but processing as well. It was one of the commemorative activities of COPAL's 50th anniversary.

Boncao Moringa, a sort of sweet from cocoa (three pieces sold at FCFA 100), savon made out of cocoa (Savon Lazaro at FCFA 1,000 per cube), caramel cao-arachide and cocoa butter with prices ranging from FCFA 1,000 to 3,000, showcased by Gic A. Mbref du Cameroon easily stole the show in the exhibition village at the courtyard of the Yaounde Multipurpose sports complex. According to its delegate, Lankio Denise, Savon Lazaro and cocoa butter which were major attractions, are therapeutic. Her counterpart, Som Antoinette, with her "Produits Lazarettes" exhibited how processed cocoa, combined with other products, are medicinal.

CHOCOCAM with its matinal, mambo chocolate and tartina also showed the world what the country is doing in an industrial scale. Other exhibitors included the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council which works with farmers to improve production and marketing, the Institute for Agriculture Research and Development, IRAD, with the different cocoa plant species et al.

Before the exhibitions, the over 200 participants from the ten countries that make up COPAL had since Monday October 8 been discussing ways of revamping the sector not only to improve the living conditions of producers but also for it to contribute to the sustainable development of producing countries. The 75th General Assembly of COPAL as well as commemoratives activities for its golden jubilee end today Friday October 12. On Monday, October 15, they will begin meeting for the 17th International Conference on Cocoa Research.