Q. Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?
(a) Algeria and Morocco
(b) Botswana and Namibia
(c) Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
(d) Madagascar and Mozambique
Correct answer: (c) Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 GS Paper
Explanation:
Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Côte d’Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast) and Ghana are indeed the two largest cocoa producers in the world.
1. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, accounting for approximately 40% of the global supply.
2. Ghana is the second-largest producer, responsible for about 20% of the world’s cocoa.
3. These two West African nations together produce about 60% of the world’s cocoa.
4. The cocoa industry is crucial to the economies of both countries, providing livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers.
5. Other significant cocoa-producing countries include Indonesia, Nigeria, and Cameroon, but their production is much smaller compared to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.